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The definition of leave is to depart, or to let something alone, or to bequeath.

(verb)

When you exit a room, this is an example of when you leave the room.
When you don't bother someone, this is an example of when you leave him alone.
When you give money to your children in your will, this is an example of when you leave them money.

Leave is defined as permission, or is time off from work.

(noun)

When you are given permission to attend a party, this is an example of when you are given leave to attend.
When you take two months off work to care for your new baby, this is an example of maternity leave.

See leave in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb left, leaving

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

Origin: 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

to go away, depart, or set out

Related Forms:

leaver noun

noun

permission
1. permission to be absent from duty or work, esp. such permission given to personnel in the armed services
2. the period for which such permission is granted

Origin: 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

intransitive verb leaved, leaving

to put forth, or bear, leaves; leaf

Origin: ME leven < lefe, leaf

See leave in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb left left (lĕft), leav·ing, leaves leaves

verb, transitive

To go out of or away from: not allowed to leave the room.
a. To go without taking or removing: left my book on the bus.
b. To omit or exclude: left out the funniest part of the story.
To have as a result, consequence, or remainder: The car left a trail of exhaust fumes. Two from eight leaves six.
To cause or allow to be or remain in a specified state: left the lights on.
a. To have remaining after death: left a young son.
b. To bequeath: left her money to charity.
To give over to another to control or act on: Leave all the details to us.
a. To abandon or forsake: leave home; left her husband.
b. To remove oneself from association with or participation in: left the navy for civilian life.
a. To give or deposit, as for use or information, upon one's departure or in one's absence: He left a note for you. Leave your name and address.
b. To cause or permit to be or remain: left myself plenty of time.
Nonstandard To allow or permit; let.

verb, intransitive

To set out or depart; go: When can you leave?

Phrasal Verbs: leave /let alone To refrain from disturbing or interfering. leave off To stop; cease. To stop doing or using.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English leaven

Origin: , from Old English lǣfan; see leip- in Indo-European roots

Related Forms:

leavˈer noun

Usage Note: Leave alone is an acceptable substitute for let alone in the sense “to refrain from disturbing or interfering.” A majority of the Usage Panel in an earlier survey approved the following examples: Leave him alone and he will produce. Left alone, he was quite productive. Those who did not accept these examples generally felt that leave alone should mean simply “to depart from someone who remains in solitude”: They were left alone in the wilderness. • In formal writing leave is not an acceptable substitute for let in the sense “to allow or permit.” Thus in the following examples, only let can be used: Let me be. Let him go. Let us not quarrel. Let it lie.

noun

Permission to do something. See Synonyms at permission.
a. Abbr. lv. Official permission to be absent from work or duty, as that granted to military or corporate personnel.
b. The period of time granted by such permission. Also called leave of absence.
An act of departing; a farewell: took leave of her with a heavy heart.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English leve

Origin: , from Old English lēafe

Origin: , dative and accusative of lēaf; see leubh- in Indo-European roots

intransitive verb leaved leaved, leav·ing, leaves leaves

To put forth foliage; leaf.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English leaven

Origin: , from leaf, leaf; see leaf

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leave synonyms

leave phrase meanings