LET

v. & n. --v. (letting; past and past part. let) 1 tr. a allow to, not prevent or forbid (we let them go). b cause to (let me know; let it be known). 2 tr. (foll. by into) a allow to enter. b make acquainted with (a secret etc.). c inlay in. 3 tr. Brit. grant the use of (rooms, land, etc.) for rent or hire (was let to the new tenant for a year). 4 tr. allow or cause (liquid or air) to escape (let blood). 5 tr. award (a contract for work). 6 aux. supplying the first and third persons of the imperative in exhortations (let us pray), commands (let it be done at once; let there be light), assumptions (let AB be equal to CD), and permission or challenge (let him do his worst). --n. Brit. the act or an instance of letting a house, room, etc. (a long let). ølet alone 1 not to mention, far less or more (hasn't got a television, let alone a video). 2 = let be. let be not interfere with, attend to, or do. let down 1 lower. 2 fail to support or satisfy, disappoint. 3 lengthen (a garment). 4 deflate (a tyre). let-down n. a disappointment. let down gently avoid humiliating abruptly. let drop (or fall) 1 drop (esp. a word or hint) intentionally or by accident. 2 (foll. by on, upon, to) Geom. draw (a perpendicular) from an outside point to a line. let fly 1 (often foll. by at) attack physically or verbally. 2 discharge (a missile). let go 1 release, set at liberty. 2 a (often foll. by of) lose or relinquish one's hold. b lose hold of. 3 cease to think or talk about. let oneself go 1 give way to enthusiasm, impulse, etc. 2 cease to take trouble, neglect one's appearance or habits. let in 1 allow to enter (let the dog in; let in a flood of light; this would let in all sorts of evils). 2 (usu. foll. by for) involve (a person, often oneself) in loss or difficulty. 3 (foll. by on) allow (a person) to share privileges, information, etc. 4 inlay (a thing) in another. let oneself in enter a building by means of a latchkey. let loose release or unchain (a dog, fury, a maniac, etc.). let me see see SEE(1). let off 1 a fire (a gun). b explode (a bomb or firework). 2 allow or cause (steam, liquid, etc.) to escape. 3 allow to alight from a vehicle etc. 4 a not punish or compel. b (foll. by with) punish lightly. 5 Brit. let (part of a house etc.). let-off n. being allowed to escape something. let off steam see STEAM. let on colloq. 1 reveal a secret. 2 pretend (let on that he had succeeded). let out 1 allow to go out, esp. through a doorway. 2 release from restraint. 3 (often foll. by that + clause) reveal (a secret etc.). 4 make (a garment) looser esp. by adjustment at a seam. 5 put out to rent esp. to several tenants, or to contract. 6 exculpate. let-out n. colloq. an opportunity to escape. let rip see RIP(1). let slip see SLIP(1). let through allow to pass. let up colloq. 1 become less intense or severe. 2 relax one's efforts. let-up n. colloq. 1 a reduction in intensity. 2 a relaxation of effort. to let available for rent. [OE lótan f. Gmc, rel. to LATE]