leave 
| Jump To: |
 Synonyms ·
 Usage Examples ·
 Quotes ·
 Link/Cite |
| Also found in: |
 AH Idiom Dictionary |
leave (lēv)
transitive verb left, leaving leav′·ing
- to cause or allow to remain; not take away to leave some of the food for latecomers
- to make, place, deposit, etc., and cause to remain behind one to leave one's calling card
- to have remaining after one the deceased leaves a widow
- to bequeath to leave a fortune to charity
- to let be in the care of; entrust: with to or up to to leave a decision to another
- to give as a remainder by subtraction ten minus two leaves eight
- to reject take it or leave it
- to go away from to leave the house
- to let stay or cause to be in a certain condition the flood left them homeless
- to give up; abandon; forsake
- to stop living in, working for, or belonging to
- Chiefly Dial. to let or allow leave us go now
Etymology: ME leven < OE læfan, lit., to let remain (< *lafjan < base of laf, remnant, what remains), akin to (be)lifan, to remain, Ger bleiben, OHG belīban < IE *leip-, to smear with grease, stick to < base *lei-, viscous, sticky > L limus: see lime
intransitive verb
Related Forms:
- leaver leav′er noun
leave alone
leave off
- to stop; cease
- to stop doing, using, or wearing
leave out
- to omit
- to ignore
leave well enough alone
leave (lēv)
noun
- permission
- permission to be absent from duty or work, esp. such permission given to personnel in the armed services
- the period for which such permission is granted
Etymology: ME leve < OE leaf, permission, akin to obs. Ger laube, permission, erlauben, to allow, permit < IE base *leubh-, to like, desire > lief, love, L libido
beg leave
by your leave
on leave
take leave of
take one's leave
leave (lēv)
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Alternate definitions:
leave
n.
Permission
consent, dispensation, allowance; see permission.Authorized absence
leave of absence, holiday, furlough, sabbatical; see vacation.
beg leave
by your leave
on leave
take leave of
take one's leave
leave
v.
To go away
go, depart, take leave, withdraw, move, set out, come away, go forth, take off, start, remove oneself, step down, quit (a place), part, part company, defect, vanish, elope, retire, walk out, walk off, get out, get off, get away, slip away, break away, break out, ride off, go off, go away, move out, move away, vacate, issue, decamp, abscond, flee, get out, flit, migrate, fly, run along, embark, emplane, sally forth, say good-by, entrain, emigrate, clear out, pull out, cut out*, push off*, cast off*, scram*, split*, blow*, head out*, ditch*, give the slip*, vamoose*, sign out*, check out*, beat it*, take a powder*, take to the tall timber*, get rolling*, fade away*, pull up stakes*, get along*, make oneself scarce*, break squares with*, bid a long farewell*; see also disappear, resign 2, retreat 1, 2.To abandon
To allow to remain
let be, let stay, leave behind, let continue, let go, drop, lay down, omit, forget; see also neglect 1, 2.To allow to fall to another
bequeath, will, devise, leave behind, bequest, hand down, transmit; see also give 1.
Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Preposition: at
- junction: How to find Dolphin Hotel: M27 leave at junction 3, follow the brown tourist signs to ' Waterfront ' and iow ferry.
Noun phrase with adjective complement
- unattended: They stress that no-one should accept drinks from strangers or leave drinks unattended at any time.
Adjective modifier
- parental: To be entitled to parental leave, an employe must have responsibility for a child.
Adjective complement
- untouched: The decision leaves untouched the practice in which millions of schoolchildren around the country begin the day by reciting the pledge.
Noun used with modifier
- maternity: Following maternity leave, your legal right is to return to the job which you held prior to your maternity leave.
Preposition: of
- absence: I am ready to return from leave of absence, how do I do this?
Modifies a noun
- entitlement: However, in a joint adoption only one partner is entitled to statutory adoption pay whilst the other has paternity leave entitlements.
The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.
Certes, je sortirai quant a' moi satisfait D'un monde o u' l'action n'est pas la soeur du re" ve. Indeed, for my part, I shall be happy to leave A world where action is not sister to the dream.
This is one Hart that you will not leave in San Francisco. 384
Farewell, sweet phrases, lovely metaphors: But will ye leave me thus? when ye before Of stews and brothels only knew the doors, Then did I wash you with my tears, and more, Brought you to church well-dressed and clad: My God must have my best, even all I had.
Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Link to this page:
Cite this page:
MLA Style
"leave." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009
- Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
- <www.yourdictionary.com/leave>
APA Style
leave. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary
- Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/leave
Browse dictionary definitions near leave
Print this Page
Suggestion Box
Send to Friend
Follow YD on Twitter
Comments:
Please Login or Register to post a comment