~ 1
■ verb ( past and past participle left )
1》 go away from.
↘depart from permanently: he left home at 16.
↘cease attending or working for (an organization, school, etc.).
↘abandon (a spouse or partner).
2》 allow or cause to remain.
↘(often ~ someone/thing behind ) go away from a place without taking (someone or something).
↘have as (a surviving relative) after one's death.
↘( ~ something off ) omit to add or put on something.
↘( ~ someone/thing out ) fail to include someone or something.
3》 ( be left ) remain to be used or dealt with.
4》 deposit (something) to be collected or attended to.
5》 cause to be in a particular state or position.
↘let (someone) do or deal with something without offering help or assistance.
↘( ~ something to ) entrust a decision, choice, or action to.
6》 (often ~ something to ) bequeath (something).
7》 ( ~ off ) discontinue (an activity).
■ noun (in snooker, croquet, etc.) the position in which a player ~s the balls for the next player.
Phrases
be left for dead be abandoned as being almost dead or certain to die.
be left to oneself be left alone or allowed to do what one wants.
~ someone be informal refrain from disturbing or interfering with someone.
~ go Brit. informal remove one's hold.
~ hold of cease holding.
~ much (or a lot ) to be desired be very unsatisfactory.
Derivatives
~r noun
Origin
OE lfan , of Gmc origin.
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~ 2
■ noun
1》 (also ~ of absence ) time when one has permission to be absent from work or duty.
2》 formal permission.
Phrases
take one's ~ formal say goodbye.
take ~ to do something formal venture or presume to do something.
Origin
OE lēaf 'permission', of W. Gmc origin; related to lief and love .