leaving

[ lee-ving ]
/ ˈli vɪŋ /

noun

something that is left; residue.
leavings, leftovers or remains; refuse.

Origin of leaving

First recorded in 1300–50, leaving is from the Middle English word leving. See leave1, -ing1

Definition for leaving (2 of 3)

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

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 WORDS FROM leave

leav·er, noun

Definition for leaving (3 of 3)

leave 3
[ leev ]
/ liv /

verb (used without object), leaved, leav·ing.

to put forth leaves; leaf.

Origin of leave

3
1250–1300; Middle English leven, derivative of lef leaf

Example sentences from the Web for leaving

British Dictionary definitions for leaving (1 of 3)

leave 1
/ (liːv) /

verb leaves, leaving or left (mainly tr)

Derived forms of leave

leaver, noun

Word Origin for leave

Old English lǣfan; related to belīfan to be left as a remainder

British Dictionary definitions for leaving (2 of 3)

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 leaving (3 of 3)

leave 3
/ (liːv) /

verb leaves, leaving or leaved

(intr) to produce or grow leaves

Idioms and Phrases with leaving

leave