AskDefine | Define left

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Dictionary Definition

left adj
1 being or located on or directed toward the side of the body to the west when facing north; "my left hand"; "left center field"; "the left bank of a river is bank on your left side when you are facing downstream" [ant: right]
2 not used up; "leftover meatloaf"; "she had a little money left over so she went to a movie"; "some odd dollars left"; "saved the remaining sandwiches for supper"; "unexpended provisions" [syn: leftover, left over(p), left(p), odd, remaining, unexpended]
3 intended for the left hand; "I rarely lose a left-hand glove" [syn: left(a), left-hand(a)]
4 of or belonging to the political or intellectual left [ant: center, right]

Noun

1 location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east; "she stood on the left" [ant: right]
2 those who support varying degrees of social or political or economic change designed to promote the public welfare [syn: left wing]
3 the hand that is on the left side of the body; "jab with your left" [syn: left hand]
4 the piece of ground in the outfield on the catcher's left [syn: left field]
5 a turn to the left; "take a left at the corner" adv : toward or on the left; also used figuratively; "he looked right and left"; "the political party has moved left" [ant: right]leave

Noun

1 the period of time during which you are absent from work or duty; "a ten day's leave to visit his mother" [syn: leave of absence]
2 permission to do something; "she was granted leave to speak"
3 the act of departing politely; "he disliked long farewells"; "he took his leave"; "parting is such sweet sorrow" [syn: farewell, leave-taking, parting]

Verb

1 go away from a place; "At what time does your train leave?"; "She didn't leave until midnight"; "The ship leaves at midnight" [syn: go forth, go away] [ant: arrive]
2 go and leave behind, either intentionally or by neglect or forgetfulness; "She left a mess when she moved out"; "His good luck finally left him"; "her husband left her after 20 years of marriage"; "she wept thinking she had been left behind"
3 act or be so as to become in a specified state; "The inflation left them penniless"; "The president's remarks left us speechless"
4 leave unchanged or undisturbed or refrain from taking; "leave it as is"; "leave the young fawn alone"; "leave the flowers that you see in the park behind" [syn: leave alone, leave behind]
5 move out of or depart from; "leave the room"; "the fugitive has left the country" [syn: exit, go out, get out] [ant: enter]
6 make a possibility or provide opportunity for; permit to be attainable or cause to remain; "This leaves no room for improvement"; "The evidence allows only one conclusion"; "allow for mistakes"; "leave lots of time for the trip"; "This procedure provides for lots of leeway" [syn: allow for, allow, provide]
7 result in; "The water left a mark on the silk dress"; "Her blood left a stain on the napkin" [syn: result, lead]
8 remove oneself from an association with or participation in; "She wants to leave"; "The teenager left home"; "She left her position with the Red Cross"; "He left the Senate after two terms"; "after 20 years with the same company, she pulled up stakes" [syn: depart, pull up stakes]
9 put into the care or protection of someone; "He left the decision to his deputy"; "leave your child the nurse's care" [syn: entrust]
10 leave or give by will after one's death; "My aunt bequeathed me all her jewelry"; "My grandfather left me his entire estate" [syn: bequeath, will] [ant: disinherit]
11 have left or have as a remainder; "That left the four of us"; "19 minus 8 leaves 11"
12 be survived by after one's death; "He left six children"; "At her death, she left behind her husband and 11 cats" [syn: leave behind]
13 tell or deposit (information) knowledge; "give a secret to the Russians"; "leave your name and address here" [syn: impart, give, pass on]
14 leave behind unintentionally; "I forgot my umbrella in the restaurant"; "I left my keys inside the car and locked the doors" [syn: forget] [also: left]left See leave

User Contributed Dictionary

English

Etymology

From Middle English, left, lift, luft; from Anglo-Saxon, left, lyft lit. worthless, weak allied to Anglo-Saxon lyft-ádl, a palsy.

Pronunciation

  • /lɛft/, /lEft/
  • Rhymes: -ɛft

Adjective

  1. The west side of the body when one is facing north.
  2. remaining.
  3. Pertaining to the political left; liberal.

Translations

direction
remaining
pertaining to the political left; liberal

Synonyms

Antonyms

Adverb

  1. On or towards the left side.

Noun

  1. The left side.
  2. The ensemble of left-wing political parties. Political liberals as a group.
    The political left is not holding enough power.
  3. A punch delivered with the left fist.

Translations

The left side (1)
The ensemble of left-wing political parties

Derived terms

Verb

left
  1. past of leave
  2. permitted, allowed to proceed.
    We were not left go to the beach after school except on a weekend.

References

  • The Concise Dictionary of English Etymology, Walter W. Skeat.

Extensive Definition

Left may refer to:
← (left or left arrow) may refer to:

See also

left in Arabic: يسرة
left in Danish: Venstre (flertydig)
left in German: Links (Begriffsklärung)
left in Modern Greek (1453-): Αριστερά
left in French: Gauche
left in Dutch: Links
left in Norwegian: Venstre (andre betydninger)
left in Romanian: Stânga
left in Japanese: レフト
left in Chinese: 左

Synonyms, Antonyms and Related Words

Gospel side, abandoned, aport, cantorial side, castaway, communistic, counterclockwise, departed, derelict, deserted, discarded, disused, forsaken, gone, gone away, gone off, jettisoned, larboard, left hand, left wing, left-hand, left-hand side, left-wing, left-winger, left-wingish, leftism, leftist, leftover, leftward, leftwardly, leftwards, levorotatory, liberal, liberalism, liberalist, marooned, near, near side, net, nigh, odd, on the left, outstanding, over, pink, port, port tack, portside, progressive, progressivism, progressivist, radical, red, remaining, remanent, sinister, sinistrad, sinistral, sinistrally, sinistrocerebral, sinistrocular, sinistrogyrate, sinistrorse, socialistic, spare, superfluous, surplus, surviving, to spare, to the left, unconsumed, unused, verso, welfare stater, wrong side
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