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