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]
leave
(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]