29 take it or leave it → see take ➋
▸ leave behind
1 PHRASAL VERB If you leave someone or something behind , you go away permanently from them. □ [V n P ] He decided he must take his family with him as it was too dangerous to leave them behind. □ [V P n] I hated it at first because it meant leaving behind all my friends.
2 PHRASAL VERB If you leave behind an object or a situation, it remains after you have left a place. □ [V n P ] I don't want to leave anything behind. □ [V P n] A misty rain in the morning had left behind a coolness that would stay for hours.
3 PHRASAL VERB If a person, country, or organization is left behind , they remain at a lower level than others because they are not as quick at understanding things or developing. □ [be V -ed P ] We're going to be left behind by the rest of the world. □ [get V -ed P ] I got left behind at school with the maths. □ [V n P ] Inflation has left them way behind.
▸ leave off
1 PHRASAL VERB If someone or something is left off a list, they are not included on that list. □ [be V -ed P n] She has been deliberately left off the guest list. □ [V n P n] The judge left Walsh's name off the list of those he wanted arrested. [Also V n P ]
2 PHRASAL VERB If someone leaves off doing something, they stop doing it. □ [V P v-ing] We all left off eating and stood about with bowed heads. □ [V P n] Some of the patients left off treatment.
▸ leave out PHRASAL VERB If you leave someone or something out of an activity, collection, discussion, or group, you do not include them in it. □ [V n P + of ] Some would question the wisdom of leaving her out of the team. □ [V P n] If you prefer mild flavours reduce or leave out the chilli. □ [V n P ] Now have we left any country out? ● PHRASE If someone feels left out , they feel sad because they are not included in a group or activity.
-leaved /-liːvd/ also -leafed COMB -leaved or -leafed combines with adjectives to form other adjectives which describe the type of leaves a tree or plant has. □ …broad-leaved trees. □ …very dense and small-leafed maples.
leav|en /le v ə n/ (leavens , leavening , leavened ) VERB If a situation or activity is leavened by or with something, it is made more interesting or cheerful. □ [be V -ed + by/with ] His mood of deep pessimism cannot have been leavened by his mode of transport–a black cab. □ [V n + by/with ] He found congenial officers who knew how to leaven war's rigours with riotous enjoyment. [Also V n]
lea ve of a b|sence (leaves of absence ) N‑VAR If you have leave of absence you have permission to be away from work for a certain period.
leaves /liː vz/ Leaves is the plural form of leaf , and the third person singular form of the present tense of leave .
Leba|nese /le bəniː z/ (Lebanese )
1 ADJ Lebanese means belonging or relating to Lebanon, or to its people or culture.
2 N‑COUNT A Lebanese is a Lebanese citizen, or a person of Lebanese origin.
lech|er /le tʃə r / (lechers ) N‑COUNT If you describe a man as a lecher , you disapprove of him because you think he behaves towards women in a way which shows he is only interested in them sexually. [INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ]
lech|er|ous /le tʃərəs/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe a man as lecherous , you disapprove of him because he behaves towards women in a way which shows he is only interested in them sexually. [DISAPPROVAL ]
lech|ery /le tʃəri/ N‑UNCOUNT Lechery is the behaviour of men who are only interested in women sexually. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ His lechery made him the enemy of every self-respecting husband and father in the county.
lec|tern /le ktə r n/ (lecterns ) N‑COUNT A lectern is a high sloping desk on which someone puts their notes when they are standing up and giving a lecture.
lec|ture ◆◇◇ /le ktʃə r / (lectures , lecturing , lectured )
1 N‑COUNT A lecture is a talk someone gives in order to teach people about a particular subject, usually at a university or college. □ [+ by ] …a series of lectures by Professor Eric Robinson.
2 VERB If you lecture on a particular subject, you give a lecture or a series of lectures about it. □ [V + on/in ] She then invited him to Atlanta to lecture on the history of art. □ [V ] She has danced, choreographed, lectured and taught all over the world.
3 VERB If someone lectures you about something, they criticize you or tell you how they think you should behave. □ [V n + about/on ] He used to lecture me about getting too much sun. □ [V n] Chuck would lecture me, telling me to get a haircut. □ [V ] She was no longer interrogating but lecturing. [Also V n to-inf] ● N‑COUNT Lecture is also a noun. □ [+ on ] Our captain gave us a stern lecture on safety. SYNONYMS lecture NOUN 1
talk: I attended a talk on ancient Rome.
speech: She is due to make a speech on the economy next week.
seminar: We attended a series of half-day seminars on information technology.
lec|tur|er /le ktʃərə r / (lecturers ) N‑COUNT A lecturer is a teacher at a university or college. □ [+ in ] …a lecturer in law at Southampton University.
lec|ture|ship /le ktʃə r ʃ I p/ (lectureships ) N‑COUNT A lectureship is the position of lecturer at a university or college.