leave

leave¹

verb (past and past participle left)

1》 go away from.

    ↘depart from permanently: he left home at 16.

    ↘cease attending or working for (an organization, school, etc.).

    ↘abandon (a spouse or partner).

2》 allow or cause to remain.

    ↘(often leave someone/thing behind) go away from a place without taking (someone or something).

    ↘have as (a surviving relative) after one's death.

    ↘(leave something off) omit to add or put on something.

    ↘(leave someone/thing out) fail to include someone or something.

3》 (be left) remain to be used or dealt with.

4》 deposit (something) to be collected or attended to.

5》 cause to be in a particular state or position.

    ↘let (someone) do or deal with something without offering help or assistance.

    ↘(leave something to) entrust a decision, choice, or action to.

6》 (often leave something to) bequeath (something).

7》 (leave off) discontinue (an activity).

noun (in snooker, croquet, etc.) the position in which a player leaves the balls for the next player.

Phrases

be left for dead be abandoned as being almost dead or certain to die.

be left to oneself be left alone or allowed to do what one wants.

leave someone be informal refrain from disturbing or interfering with someone.

leave go Brit. informal remove one's hold.

leave hold of cease holding.

leave much (or a lot) to be desired be very unsatisfactory.

Derivatives

leaver noun

Origin

OE lfan, of Gmc origin.

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leave²

noun

1》 (also leave of absence) time when one has permission to be absent from work or duty.

2》 formal permission.

Phrases

take one's leave formal say goodbye.

take leave to do something formal venture or presume to do something.

Origin

OE lēaf 'permission', of W. Gmc origin; related to lief and love.