left
1being, relating to, or located on or nearest to the side where a person’s heart normally is (opposed to right): Dan was ahead of me and on the left side of the street. I have arthritis in my left knee.
Often Left . of or belonging to the political Left; having liberal or radical views in politics.
Mathematics. pertaining to an element of a set that has a given property when written on the left of an element or set of elements of the set: a left identity, as 1 in 1 ⋅ x = x.
the left side or something that is on the left side; the direction toward that side: The laundry room is the first door on your left.Move the picture about a foot to the left so it’s centered above the sofa.
a turn toward the left: Make a left at the next corner.
the left or the Left .
the complex of individuals or organized groups advocating liberal reform or revolutionary change in the social, political, or economic order.: Compare right (def. 33a).
the position held by these people.: Compare right (def. 33b).
left wing. : Compare right wing.
Usually Left .Government.
the part of a legislative assembly, especially in continental Europe, that is situated on the left side of the presiding officer and that is customarily assigned to members of the legislature who hold more radical and socialistic views than the rest of the members.
the members of such an assembly who sit on the left.
Boxing. a blow delivered by the left hand.
Baseball. left field (def. 1).
toward the left: She moved left on entering the room.
Origin of left
1Other definitions for left (2 of 2)
simple past tense and past participle of leave1.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use left in a sentence
Slippers were in use before Shakespeare's time, and were originally made "rights" and "lefts."
Burroughs' Encyclopaedia of Astounding Facts and Useful Information, 1889 | Barkham BurroughsOne curious minor application of rights and lefts is the rule of the road as it exists in England.
Falling in Love | Grant AllenWe were a bit behind the rest, and Jack started giving me points about lefts and rights, and 'half-arms', and that sort of thing.
Joe Wilson and His Mates | Henry LawsonUnlike such ornaments of the other services, the horns were paired in rights and lefts on the coat.
American Military Insignia 1800-1851 | J. Duncan Campbell and Edgar M. Howell.The boots were what are called "rights and lefts," and in a good state of preservation.
The New Guide to Peterborough Cathedral | George S. Phillips
British Dictionary definitions for left (1 of 2)
/ (lɛft) /
(usually prenominal) of or designating the side of something or someone that faces west when the front is turned towards the north
(usually prenominal) worn on a left hand, foot, etc
(sometimes capital) of or relating to the political or intellectual left
(sometimes capital) radical or progressive, esp as compared to less radical or progressive groups, persons, etc
on or in the direction of the left
a left side, direction, position, area, or part: Related adjectives: sinister, sinistral
(often capital) the supporters or advocates of varying degrees of social, political, or economic change, reform, or revolution designed to promote the greater freedom, power, welfare, or comfort of the common people
to the left radical in the methods, principles, etc, employed in striving to achieve such change
boxing
a blow with the left hand
the left hand
Origin of left
1British Dictionary definitions for left (2 of 2)
/ (lɛft) /
the past tense and past participle of leave 1
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with left
In addition to the idioms beginning with left
- left field
- left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing, the
- left wing
also see:
- hang a left
- out in left field
- right and left
- take up where one left off
- two left feet
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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