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leave
About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.

20 ENTRIES FOUND:
  1. leave
  2. left
  3. leave and license
  4. leave in
  5. leave of absence
  6. leave off
  7. leave out
  8. leave over
  9. leave-taking
  10. absence without leave
  11. absent over leave
  12. absent without leave
  13. annual leave
  14. by-your-leave
  15. family leave
  16. French leave
  17. shore leave
  18. sick leave
  19. terminal leave
  20. ticket-of-leave

1leave

verb \ˈlēv\
left \ˈleft\ leav·ing

Definition of LEAVE

transitive verb
1
a (1) : bequeath, devise <left a fortune to his son> (2) : to have remaining after one's death <leaves a widow and two children>
b : to cause to remain as a trace or aftereffect <oil leaves a stain> <the wound left an ugly scar>
2
a : to cause or allow to be or remain in a specified condition <leave the door open> <his manner left me cold>
b : to fail to include or take along <left the notes at home> <the movie leaves a lot out>
c : to have as a remainder <4 from 7 leaves 3>
d : to permit to be or remain subject to another's action or control <just leave everything to me>
e : let
f : to cause or allow to be or remain available <leave room for expansion> <left myself an out>
3
a : to go away from : depart <leave the room>
b : desert, abandon <left his wife>
c : to terminate association with : withdraw from <left school before graduation>
4
: to put, deposit, or deliver before or in the process of departing <I left a package for you> <leave a message>
intransitive verb
: set out, depart
— leav·er noun
— leave alone
: to refrain from bothering, disturbing, or using

Usage Discussion of LEAVE

Leave (sense 2e) with the infinitive but without to <leave it be> is a mostly spoken idiom used in writing especially for humorous effect. It is not often criticized in British English, but American commentators, adhering to an opinion first expressed in 1881, still dislike it.

Origin of LEAVE

Middle English leven, from Old English lǣfan; akin to Old High German verleiben to leave, Old English belīfan to be left over, and perhaps to Lithuanian lipti to adhere, Greek lipos grease, fat
First Known Use: before 12th century

Rhymes with LEAVE

breve, cleave, eave, eve, Eve, greave, grieve, heave, lief, peeve, reave, reeve, reive, scrieve, sheave, sleeve, steeve, thieve, weave

2leave

noun

Definition of LEAVE

1
a : permission to do something
b : authorized especially extended absence from duty or employment
2
: an act of leaving : departure
See leave defined for English-language learners »

Examples of LEAVE

  1. He took an unpaid leave from work.
  2. The soldiers were given a two-month leave for the holidays.
  3. He took a few months' leave to care for his sick mother.
  4. Our professor is on leave this semester.
  5. She is on leave from her law firm.
  6. a soldier on military leave
  7. I beg leave to differ with you, sir.
  8. He was found guilty but was granted leave to appeal against the verdict.

Origin of LEAVE

Middle English leve, from Old English lēaf; akin to Middle High German loube permission, Old English alȳfan to allow — more at believe
First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to LEAVE

3leave

intransitive verb
leavedleav·ing

Definition of LEAVE

: leaf

Origin of LEAVE

Middle English leven, from leef leaf
First Known Use: 14th century

Other Botany Terms

annual, burgeon, chloroplast, nomenclature, succulent, sylvan, xylem

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