n.
Function: verb
Inflected Form: let ; let · ting
Etymology: Middle English leten, from Old English l ǣ tan; akin to Old High German l ā zzan to permit, and perhaps to Lithuanian l ė nas tranquil
Date: before 12th century
transitive verb
1 : to cause to : MAKE < let me know>
2 a chiefly British : to offer or grant for rent or lease < let rooms> b : to assign especially after bids < let a contract>
3 a : to give opportunity to or fail to prevent <live and let live> <a break in the clouds let us see the summit> < let the opportunity slip> b ― used in the imperative to introduce a request or proposal < let us pray> c ― used as an auxiliary to express a warning < let him try>
4 : to free from or as if from confinement < let out a scream> < let blood>
5 : to permit to enter, pass, or leave < let them through> < let them off with a warning>
6 : to make an adjustment to < let out the waist>
intransitive verb
1 chiefly British : to become rented or leased
2 : to become awarded to a contractor
synonyms see HIRE
– let alone : to leave undisturbed < let the flowers alone > also : to leave to oneself <wanted to be let alone >
– let fly
1 : to hurl an object
2 : to give unrestrained expression to an emotion or utterance < let fly with some sharp rebukes ― Janice Castro>
– let go
1 : to dismiss from employment <the firm let him go at the end of the month>
2 : to abandon self-restraint : let fly <spoke in clipped sentences, as if fearful of letting go ― David Kline> <there just to party, just to let go ― Philippe Vergne>
3 : to relax or release one's hold ― used with of < let go of stress ― Kathy McCoy> < let go of my arm>
4 : to fail to take care of : NEGLECT < let himself go and got real fat ― Bill Parcells>
– let it all hang out : to reveal one's true feelings : act without dissimulation
– let one have it : to subject to vigorous assault
– let one's hair down : to act without pretense or self-restraint
– let rip
1 : to utter or release without restraint < let 'er rip >
2 : to do or utter something without restraint < let rip at the press>
– let the cat out of the bag : to give away a secret