As used in this part, unless a definite meaning clearly appears from the context:

“Furnishing of materials” includes supplying of: materials incorporated in the improvement or substantially consumed in construction operations or specially fabricated for incorporation in the improvement; building materials used during construction but not remaining in the improvement, diminished by the salvage value of the materials; transportation to bring the materials to the site of the improvement; tools, appliances, or machinery (but not including hand tools), used during the construction but not in excess of the reasonable rental value for the period of actual use.

The delivery of materials to the site of the improvement or the delivery of materials other than to the site of the improvement, but upon the written statement by the general contractor or the contractor’s agents that the materials are for a particular improvement, shall be prima facie evidence of incorporation of the materials in the improvement.

“General contractor” means a person who enters into a contract with the owner for the improvement of real property.

“Improvement” includes the construction, repair, alteration of or addition to any building, structure, road, utility, railroad, or other undertaking or appurtenances thereto, and includes any building, construction, erection, demolition, excavation, grading, paving, filling in, landscaping, seeding, sodding, and planting, or any part thereof existing, built, erected, placed, made, or done on real property, or removed therefrom, for its benefit.

“Labor” includes professional services rendered in furnishing the plans for or in the supervision of the improvement.

“Lien” means the lien provided in section 507-42.

“Owner” means the owner of the real property or of any interest therein who enters into a contract for the improvement thereof and who may be the owner in fee of the real property or of a lesser estate therein, the lessee for a term of years therein, the person having any right, title, or interest in the real property which may be sold under legal process, or a vendee in possession under a contract for the purchase of the real property or of any such right, title or interest therein.

“Person” includes natural persons, partnerships, corporations, firms, unincorporated associations, joint ventures, and any other party recognized at law as a person.

“Visible commencement of operations” means the first actual work of improvement as part of a continuous operation, or the first delivery to the site of materials to be used as part of a continuous operation in the improvement, of such manifest and substantial character as to notify interested persons that the real property is being improved or is about to be improved.