leaves
[ leevz ]
/ livz /
noun
plural of leaf.
Words nearby leaves
leave-taking,
leaved,
leaven,
leavening,
leavenworth,
leaves,
leaves of grass,
leaving,
leavings,
leavis,
leavitt
Definition for leaves (2 of 5)
leaf
[ leef ]
/ lif /
noun, plural leaves [leevz] /livz/.
verb (used without object)
to put forth leaves.
to turn pages, especially quickly (usually followed by through): to leaf through a book.
verb (used with object)
to thumb or turn, as the pages of a book or magazine, in a casual or cursory inspection of the contents.
Origin of leaf
before 900; Middle English
leef, lef, Old English
lēaf; cognate with Dutch
loof, German
Laub, Old Norse
lauf, Gothic
laufs
OTHER WORDS FROM leaf
leaf·less, adjective leaf·like, adjective un·leaf, verb (used with object) un·leaf·like, adjectiveDefinition for leaves (3 of 5)
leave
1
[ leev ]
/ liv /
verb (used with object), left, leav·ing.
verb (used without object), left, leav·ing.
to go away, depart, or set out: We leave for Europe tomorrow.
Verb Phrases
Origin of leave
1
before 900; Middle English
leven, Old English
lǣfan (causative formation from base of
lāf remainder; see
lave2); cognate with Old High German
leiban (compare German
bleiben to remain), Old Norse
leifa, Gothic
-laibjan
SYNONYMS FOR leave
usage note for leave
Leave is interchangeable with
let when followed by
alone with the sense “to refrain from annoying or interfering with”:
Leave (or
Let )
her alone and she will solve the problem easily. When he was left (or
let )
alone without interruptions, the boy quickly assembled the apparatus. The use of
leave alone for
let alone in the sense “not to mention” is nonstandard:
There wasn't any standing room, let (not
leave )
alone a seat, so I missed the performance.
Other substitutions of leave for let are generally regarded as nonstandard: Let (not Leave ) us sit down and talk this over. Let (not Leave ) her do it her own way. The police wouldn't let (not leave ) us cross the barriers. See also let1.
Other substitutions of leave for let are generally regarded as nonstandard: Let (not Leave ) us sit down and talk this over. Let (not Leave ) her do it her own way. The police wouldn't let (not leave ) us cross the barriers. See also let1.
OTHER WORDS FROM leave
leav·er, nounDefinition for leaves (4 of 5)
leave
2
[ leev ]
/ liv /
noun
permission to do something: to beg leave to go elsewhere.
permission to be absent, as from work or military duty: The firm offers a maternity leave as part of its benefit program.
the time this permission lasts: 30 days' leave.
a parting; departure; farewell: He took his leave before the formal ceremonies began. We took leave of them after dinner.
Metallurgy.
draft(def 23).
Bowling.
the pin or pins in upright position after the bowl of the first ball.
Origin of leave
2Definition for leaves (5 of 5)
leave
3
[ leev ]
/ liv /
verb (used without object), leaved, leav·ing.
to put forth leaves; leaf.
Origin of leave
3Example sentences from the Web for leaves
British Dictionary definitions for leaves (1 of 5)
British Dictionary definitions for leaves (2 of 5)
leave
1
/ (liːv) /
verb leaves, leaving or left (mainly tr)
Derived forms of leave
leaver, nounWord Origin for leave
Old English
lǣfan; related to
belīfan to be left as a remainder
British Dictionary definitions for leaves (3 of 5)
leave
2
/ (liːv) /
noun
Word Origin for leave
Old English
lēaf; related to
alӯfan to permit, Middle High German
loube permission
British Dictionary definitions for leaves (4 of 5)
leave
3
/ (liːv) /
verb leaves, leaving or leaved
(intr)
to produce or grow leaves
British Dictionary definitions for leaves (5 of 5)
leaf
/ (liːf) /
noun plural leaves (liːvz)
verb
(when intr, usually foll by through)
to turn (through pages, sheets, etc) cursorily
(intr)
(of plants) to produce leaves
Derived forms of leaf
leafless, adjective leaflessness, noun leaflike, adjectiveWord Origin for leaf
Old English; related to Gothic
laufs, Icelandic
lauf
Scientific definitions for leaves
leaf
[ lēf ]
An appendage growing from the stem of a plant. Leaves are extremely variable in form and function according to species. For example, the needles of pine trees, the spines of cacti, and the bright red parts of the poinsettia plant are all leaves modified for different purposes. However, most leaves are flat and green and adapted to capturing sunlight and carbon dioxide for photosynthesis. They consist of an outer tissue layer (the epidermis) through which water and gases are exchanged, a spongy inner layer of cells that contain chloroplasts, and veins that supply water and minerals and carry out food. Some leaves are simple, while others are compound, consisting of multiple leaflets. The flat part of the leaf, the blade, is often attached to the stem by a leafstalk.
Idioms and Phrases with leaves (1 of 2)
leaf
Idioms and Phrases with leaves (2 of 2)
leave