Definition for leave - Oxford Dictionaries Online (World English)

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	leave1 (leave) Pronunciation: /liːv/ verb (past and past participle left /lɛft/) 1 [with object] go away from: she left London on June 6 [no object]: we were almost the last to leave the England team left for* Pakistan on Monday* depart from permanently: at the age of sixteen he left home cease attending (a school or college) or working for (an organization): she is leaving the BBC after 20 years 2 [with object] allow or cause to remain: the parts he disliked he would alter and the parts he didn’t dislike he’d leave (be left) remain to be used or dealt with: we’ve even got one of the Christmas puddings left over* from last year* [with infinitive]: a retired person with no mortgage left to pay [with object and adverbial of place] go away from a place without taking (someone or something): we had not left any of our belongings behind figurative women had been left behind* in the struggle for pay equality* abandon (a spouse or partner): her boyfriend left* her for another woman* have as (a surviving relative) after one’s death: he leaves a wife and three children bequeath (property) to a person or other beneficiary by a will: he left* £500 to the National Asthma Campaign* [with two objects]: Cornelius had left her fifty pounds a year for life 3 [with object and adverbial or complement] cause (someone or something) to be in a particular state or position: he’ll leave you in no doubt about what he thinks I’ll leave the door open the children were left with* feelings of loss* [with object and infinitive] let (someone) do or deal with something without offering help or assistance: infected people are often rejected by family and friends, leaving them to face this chronic condition alone [with object] cause to remain as a trace or record: dark fruit that would leave purple stains on the table napkins figurative they leave the impression that they can be bullied [with object] deposit or entrust to be kept, collected, or attended to: she left a note for me [with object] (leave something to) entrust a decision, choice, or action to (someone else, especially someone considered better qualified): the choice of which link to take is generally left up to* the reader* noun (in snooker, croquet, and other games) the position in which a player leaves the balls for the next player. Phrases be left at the post be beaten from the start of a race or competition. be left for dead be abandoned as being almost dead or certain to die: she was left for dead after being repeatedly hit over the head with a rock be left to oneself be alone or solitary: left to himself he removed his shirt and tie be allowed to do what one wants: women, left to themselves, would make the world a beautiful place to live in leave someone/thing alone see alone leave someone be informal refrain from disturbing or interfering with someone: why can’t you all just leave me be? leave someone cold fail to interest someone: the Romantic poets left him cold leave go British informal remove one’s hold or grip: leave go of me! leave hold of cease holding. leave it at that abstain from further comment or action: if you are not sure of the answers, say so, and leave it at that leave much (or a lot) to be desired be highly unsatisfactory: their education leaves much to be desired Phrasal Verbs leave off discontinue (an activity): the dog left off chasing the sheep he resumed the other story at the point where the previous author had left off leave someone/thing out fail to include: it seemed unkind to leave Daisy out, so she was invited too (as adjective left out) Olivia was feeling rather left out (usually in imperative leave it out) British informal stop it: ‘Leave it out,’ I said sternly, pushing him off Derivatives leaver noun Origin: Old English lǣfan 'bequeath', also 'allow to remain, leave in place' of Germanic origin; related to German bleiben 'remain'		Search results in the dictionary leave² leave³ leave of absence in leave² way leave shore leave sick leave More results » Nearby Words leatherjacket leatherleaf leathern leatherneck leatherwear leatherwood leatherwork leathery leathery turtle leave ¹ leave ² leave ³ leave-taking leaved leaven Leavenworth leaves leavings Leavis, F. R.