I. REMAINING
/left/
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
Left is the past tense and past participle of leave .
2.
If there is a certain amount of something left , or if you have a certain amount of it left , it remains when the rest has gone or been used.
Is there any gin left?...
He’s got plenty of money left...
They still have six games left to play.
ADJ : v-link ADJ , v n ADJ
•
If there is a certain amount of something left over , or if you have it left over , it remains when the rest has gone or been used.
So much income is devoted to monthly mortgage payments that nothing is left over.
...a large bucket of cut flowers left over from the wedding.
PHRASE : usu v-link PHR
II. DIRECTION AND POLITICAL GROUPINGS
/left/
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
Note: The spelling 'Left' is also used for meanings 3 and 4.
1.
The left is one of two opposite directions, sides, or positions. If you are facing north and you turn to the left, you will be facing west. In the word ‘to’, the ‘t’ is to the left of the ‘o’.
In Britain cars drive on the left.
...the brick wall to the left of the conservatory...
Beaufort Castle is on your left.
≠ right
N-SING : usu the N
•
Left is also an adverb.
Turn left at the crossroads into Clay Lane.
ADV : ADV after v
2.
Your left arm, leg, or ear, for example, is the one which is on the left side of your body. Your left shoe or glove is the one which is intended to be worn on your left foot or hand.
≠ right
ADJ : ADJ n
3.
You can refer to people who support the political ideals of socialism as the left . They are often contrasted with the right , who support the political ideals of capitalism and conservatism.
...the traditional parties of the Left...
≠ right
N-SING-COLL : the N
4.
If you say that a person or political party has moved to the left , you mean that their political beliefs have become more left-wing.
After Mrs Thatcher’s first election victory in 1979, Labour moved sharply to the left...
≠ right
N-SING : the N , usu to the N