Collins English-English Dictionary

leave [liːv]

1. 1. vb [mainly tr] [also intr] to go or depart (from a person or place)

2. 2. vt. let alone - See let

3. 3. vb to cause to remain behind, often by mistake, in a place

   he often leaves his keys in his coat

4. 4. vb to cause to be or remain in a specified state

   paying the bill left him penniless

5. 5. vb to renounce or abandon

   to leave a political movement

6. 6. vb to refrain from consuming or doing something

   the things we have left undone

7. 7. vb to result in; cause

   childhood problems often leave emotional scars

8. 8. vb to allow to be or remain subject to another person or thing

   leave the past to look after itself

9. 9. vb to entrust or commit

   leave the shopping to her

10. 10. vb to submit in place of one's personal appearance

    will you leave your name and address?

11. 11. vb to pass in a specified direction

    flying out of the country, we left the cliffs on our left

12. 12. vb to be survived by (members of one's family)

    he leaves a wife and two children

13. 13. vb to bequeath or devise

    he left his investments to his children

14. 14. vt. [tr] to have as a remainder

    37 -- 14 leaves 23

15. 15. vt. [not standard] to permit; let

16. 16. vt. See also leave behind leave off leave out

17. 17. vt. [Etymology] Old English læfan; related to belifan to be left as a remainder

leave [liːv]

1. 1. n permission to do something

   he was granted leave to speak

2. 2. n permission to be absent, as from a place of work or duty

   leave of absence

3. 3. n the duration of such absence

   ten days' leave

4. 4. n a farewell or departure (esp in the phrase take (one's) leave)

5. 5. n [Etymology] Old English leaf; related to alyfan to permit, Middle High German loube permission

leave [liːv]

1. 1. vi. [intr] to produce or grow leaves