1 N‑SING If you say that someone or something has come out of left field or is out in left field , you mean that they are untypical, unusual, or strange in some way. □ The question came out of left field, but Mary Ann wasn't really surprised. □ He is, like most theorists, out there in left field, ignoring the experimental evidence.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Left-field means slightly odd or unusual. [mainly BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ …a left-field cabaret act. □ Her parents were creative and left-field and wanted Polly to become a singer or a truck driver.
le ft-hand ADJ [ADJ n] If something is on the left-hand side of something, it is positioned on the left of it. □ The keys are in the back left-hand corner of the drawer.
le ft-hand dri ve ADJ [usu ADJ n] A left-hand drive vehicle has the steering wheel on the left side, and is designed to be used in countries where people drive on the right-hand side of the road.
le ft-ha nded ADJ Someone who is left-handed uses their left hand rather than their right hand for activities such as writing and sports and for picking things up. □ There is a place in London that supplies practically everything for left-handed people. ● ADV [ADV after v] Left-handed is also an adverb. □ My father thought that I'd be at a disadvantage if I wrote left-handed.
le ft-ha nder (left-handers ) N‑COUNT You can describe someone as a left-hander if they use their left hand rather than their right hand for activities such as writing and sports and for picking things up.
left|ism /le ft I zəm/ N‑UNCOUNT Leftism refers to the beliefs and behaviour of people who support socialist ideals. □ Franco's intention was to eliminate all traces of leftism and liberalism.
left|ist /le ft I st/ (leftists )
1 N‑COUNT Socialists and Communists are sometimes referred to as leftists . □ Two of the men were leftists and two were centrists. □ …Chilean leftists.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] If you describe someone, their ideals, or their activities as leftist , you mean that they support the ideas of socialism or communism. □ …an alliance of seven leftist parties. □ …extreme leftist ideas.
le ft-ju stify (left-justifies , left-justifying , left-justified ) VERB If printed text is left-justified , each line begins at the same distance from the left-hand edge of the page or column. □ [be V -ed] The data in the cells should be left-justified. [Also V , V n]
le ft lu g|gage N‑UNCOUNT [usu N n] Left luggage is used to refer to luggage that people leave at a special place in a railway station or an airport, and which they collect later. [BRIT ] □ …a left luggage locker at Victoria Station.
le ft-of-ce ntre in AM, use left of center ADJ [usu ADJ n] Left-of-centre people or political parties support political ideas which are closer to socialism than to capitalism.
left|over /le ftoʊvə r / (leftovers ) also left-over
1 N‑PLURAL You can refer to food that has not been eaten after a meal as leftovers . □ Refrigerate any leftovers.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] You use leftover to describe an amount of something that remains after the rest of it has been used or eaten. □ Leftover chicken makes a wonderful salad.
left|ward /le ftwə r d/ also leftwards ADJ [ADJ n] Leftward or leftwards means on or towards a political position that is closer to socialism than to capitalism. □ Their success does not necessarily reflect a leftward shift in politics. ● ADV [ADV after v] Leftward is also an adverb. □ He seemed to move leftward as he grew older.
le ft-wi ng ◆◇◇ The spelling left wing is used for meaning 2 . 1 ADJ Left-wing people have political ideas that are based on socialism. □ They said they would not be voting for him because he was too left-wing.
2 N‑SING The left wing of a group of people, especially a political party, consists of the members of it whose beliefs are closer to socialism than are those of its other members. □ The left-wing of the party is confident that the motion will be carried.
le ft-wi nger (left-wingers ) N‑COUNT A left-winger is a person whose political beliefs are close to socialism, or closer to them than most of the other people in the same group or party. □ We were accused of being militant left-wingers.
lefty /le fti/ (lefties ) also leftie
1 N‑COUNT [oft N n] If you refer to someone as a lefty , you mean that they have socialist beliefs. [mainly BRIT , INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ …a large group of students and trendy lefties.
2 N‑COUNT A lefty is someone, especially a sports player, who is left-handed. [mainly AM , INFORMAL ]
leg ◆◆◇ /le g/ (legs )
1 N‑COUNT [usu poss N ] A person or animal's legs are the long parts of their body that they use to stand on. □ He was tapping his walking stick against his leg. ● -legged /-leg I d/ COMB □ Her name was Sheila, a long-legged blonde. □ …a large four-legged animal.
2 N‑COUNT [usu pl] The legs of a pair of trousers are the parts that cover your legs. □ He moved on through wet grass that soaked his trouser legs.
3 N‑COUNT [n N ] A leg of lamb, pork, chicken, or other meat is a piece of meat that consists of the animal's or bird's leg, especially the thigh. □ …a chicken leg. □ [+ of ] …a leg of mutton.
4 N‑COUNT [oft n N ] The legs of a table, chair, or other piece of furniture are the parts that rest on the floor and support the furniture's weight. □ [+ of ] His ankles were tied to the legs of the chair. ● -legged COMB □ …a three-legged stool.