left
▪ I. left [left lefts] adjective, adverb, noun BrE [left] NAmE [left]
see also ↑leave v.
adjective only before noun
on the side of your body which is towards the west when you are facing north
• Fewer people write with their left hand than with their right.
• I broke my left leg.
•the left side of the field
•The university is on the left bank of the river.
•Take a left turn at the intersection.
• (sport)a left back/wing
•a left hook
Opp: ↑right
more at right and left at ↑right adv.
Word Origin:
Old English lyft, left ‘weak’ (the left-hand side being regarded as the weaker side of the body), of West Germanic origin.
Idioms: ↑have two left feet ▪ ↑left, right and centre
noun
1. the/sb's leftsingular the left side or direction
• She was sitting on my left.
• Twist your body to the left, then to the right.
•Take the next road on the left.
•To the left of the library is the bank.
2. singular the first, second, etc. leftthe first, second, etc. road on the left side
• Take the first left.
3. a leftsingular a turn to the left: (BrE)to take a left
• (NAmE)to hang/make a left
4. the left, the Leftsingular + singular or plural verb political groups who support the ideas and beliefs of ↑socialism
•The Left only has/have a small chance of winning power.
•a left-leaning newspaper
5. the leftsingular + singular or plural verb the part of a political party whose members are most in favour of social change
• She is on the far left of the party.
6. countable (in boxing)a blow that is made with your left hand
• He hit him with two sharp lefts.
Opp: ↑right
Word Origin:
Old English lyft, left ‘weak’ (the left-hand side being regarded as the weaker side of the body), of West Germanic origin.
Example Bank:
•As you go in the door, you'll see it on your left.
•He is somewhat to the left of the previous leader.
•He looked to the left and then crossed.
•If you turn to your left you will see the parliament building.
•In recent years the country has been ruled only by governments of the left.
•My dad's in the front row, on the extreme left of the picture.
•My office is just to the left of the main door.
•The bank is on the left, just after the post office.
•The car came from the left.
•The car park is on the left of the library.
•The party has moved further to the left.
•They're both on the extreme left of the party.
See also: ↑right, left and centre
▪ II. left adverb
•Turn left at the intersection.
•Look left and right before you cross the road.
Main entry: ↑leftderived
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