/ liːv; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
( left , left / left; NAmE /)
PLACE / PERSON
1.
to go away from a person or a place :
[ v ]
Come on, it's time we left.
The plane leaves for Dallas at 12.35.
[ vn ]
I hate leaving home.
The plane leaves Heathrow at 12.35.
HOME / JOB / SCHOOL
2.
to stop living at a place, belonging to a group, working for an employer, etc. :
[ v ]
My secretary has threatened to leave.
[ vn ]
Some children leave school at 16.
WIFE / HUSBAND
3.
[ vn ] leave sb (for sb) to leave your wife, husband or partner permanently :
She's leaving him for another man.
STH TO DO LATER
4.
[ vn ] to not do sth or deal with sth immediately :
Leave the dishes—I'll do them later.
Why do you always leave everything until the last moment?
SB / STH IN CONDITION / PLACE
5.
to make or allow sb/sth to remain in a particular condition, place, etc. :
[ vn - adj ]
Leave the door open, please.
The bomb blast left 25 people dead.
[ vn -ing ]
Don't leave her waiting outside in the rain.
[ vn to inf ]
Leave the rice to cook for 20 minutes.
[also vn ]
6.
to make sth happen or remain as a result :
[ vn ]
Red wine leaves a stain.
She left me with the impression that she was unhappy with her job.
[ vnn ]
I'm afraid you leave me no choice.
7.
be left [ vn ] to remain to be used, sold, etc. :
Is there any coffee left?
How many tickets do you have left?
( figurative )
They are fighting to save what is left of their business.
The only course of action left to me was to notify her employer.
8.
[ vn ] leave sth/sb (behind) to go away from a place without taking sth/sb with you :
I've left my bag on the bus.
Don't leave any of your belongings behind.
He wasn't well, so we had to leave him behind.
MATHEMATICS
9.
[ vn ] to have a particular amount remaining :
Seven from ten leaves three.
AFTER DEATH
10.
[ vn ] to have family remaining after your death :
He leaves a wife and two children.
11.
to give sth to sb when you die
SYN bequeath :
[ vn , vnn ]
She left £1 million to her daughter.
She left her daughter £1 million.
RESPONSIBILITY TO SB
12.
to allow sb to take care of sth :
[ vn + adv. / prep. ]
You can leave the cooking to me.
She left her assistant in charge.
Leave it with me —I'm sure I can sort it out.
'Where shall we eat?' 'I'll leave it entirely (up) to you (= you can decide) .'
They left me with all the clearing up.
[ vn to inf ]
I was left to cope on my own.
DELIVER
13.
leave sth (for sb) | leave (sb) sth to deliver sth and then go away :
[ vn , vnn ]
Someone left this note for you.
Someone left you this note.
•
IDIOMS
Most idioms containing leave are at the entries for the nouns and adjectives in the idioms, for example leave sb in the lurch is at lurch .
- leave go (of sth)
- leave it at that
- leave it out
—more at take
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- leave sth aside
- leave sb/sth behind
- leave off
- leave sb/sth off (sth)
- leave sb/sth out (of sth)
- be left over (from sth)
■ noun [ U ]
1.
a period of time when you are allowed to be away from work for a holiday / vacation or for a special reason :
to take a month's paid / unpaid leave
soldiers home on leave
to be on maternity / study leave
How much annual leave do you get?
—see also compassionate leave , sick leave
2.
leave (to do sth) ( formal ) official permission to do sth :
to be absent without leave
The court granted him leave to appeal against the sentence.
She asked for leave of absence (= permission to be away from work) to attend a funeral.
•
IDIOMS
- by / with your leave
- take leave of your senses
- take (your) leave (of sb)
- without a by your leave; without so much as a by your leave
—more at beg , French
••
WORD ORIGIN
verb Old English lǣfan bequeath , also allow to remain, leave in place of Germanic origin; related to German bleiben remain.
noun Old English lēaf permission , of West Germanic origin; related to lief and love .