leave^*liv(v.)left, leav•ing.

1. (v.t.)to go out of or away from, as a place:

   to leave the house.

2. to depart from permanently; quit:

   to leave a job.

3. to let remain behind:

   The bear left tracks in the snow.

4. to let stay or be as specified:

   to leave a motor running.

5. to let (a person or animal) remain in a position to do something without interference:

   We left him to his work.

6. to let (a thing) remain for another's action or decision:

   We left the details to the lawyer.

7. to give in charge; deposit; entrust:

   Leave the package with my neighbor.

8. to stop; cease; give up:

   She left music to study engineering.

9. to turn aside from; abandon or disregard:

   We will leave this subject for now.

10. to give for use after one's death or departure:

    to leave all one's money to charity.

11. to have remaining after death:

    He leaves a wife and three children.

12. to have as a remainder after subtraction:

    2 from 4 leaves 2.

13. Nonstandard.

    Category: Common Vocabulary, Status (usage)

    Ref: let1 (defs. 1, 2, 4). 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 6

14. (v.i.)to go away, depart, or set out:

    We leave for Europe tomorrow.

15. leave off, to stop; cease; discontinue. to stop using or wearing. to omit.

    Category: Verb Phrase

16. leave out, to omit; exclude.

    Category: Verb Phrase

^* Usage: leave is interchangeable with let when followed by alone with the sense “to refrain from annoying or interfering with”: Leave (or Let) him alone and he will assemble the apparatus properly. The use of leavealone for letalone in the sense “not to mention” is nonstandard: There wasn't even standing room, let (not leave) alone a seat. Other substitutions of leave for let are generally regarded as nonstandard: Let (not Leave) us sit down and talk this over. See also let1.

Origin of leave:

bef. 900; ME leven, OE lǣfan, c. OHG leiban, ON leifa, Go bi-laibjan

leav′er(n.)

leaveliv(n.)

1. permission to do something:

   to beg leave to go.

2. permission to be absent, as from work or military duty:

   to get leave after basic training.

3. the time this permission lasts:

   30 days' leave.

4. the bowling pin or pins in upright position after the bowl of the first ball.

Idioms for leave:

1. on leave,absent with permission, as from work or military duty.

   Category: Idiom

2. take one's leave,to depart, as after a formal good-bye.

   Category: Idiom

3. take leave of,to part or separate from:

   Have you taken leave of your senses?

   Category: Idiom

Origin of leave:

bef. 900; ME leve, OE lēaf, c. MHG loube

leaveliv(v.i.)leaved, leav•ing.

1. to leaf.

   Category: Botany

Origin of leave:

1250–1300; ME leven,lefleaf