Leave - Definition

n 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, 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, leave-taking, parting]
v 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: leave, go forth, go away]
[ant: arrive, come, get]
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, 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,
leave] [ant: come in, enter, get in, get into, go
in, go into, move into]
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: leave,
allow for, allow, provide]
7: have as a result or residue; "The water left a mark on the
silk dress"; "Her blood left a stain on the napkin" [syn:
leave, 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: leave, 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, leave]
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, leave] [ant:
disinherit, disown]
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, leave behind]
13: transmit (knowledge or skills); "give a secret to the
Russians"; "leave your name and address here"; "impart a new
skill to the students" [syn: impart, leave, 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, leave]