Leave, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Left p. pr. & vb. n. Leaving.]
 1. To withdraw one's self from; to go away from; to depart from; as, to leave the house.
    Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife.   --Gen. ii. 24.
 2. To let remain unremoved or undone; to let stay or continue, in distinction from what is removed or changed.
    If grape gatherers come to thee, would they not leave some gleaning grapes ?   --Jer. xlix. 9.
    These ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.   --Matt. xxiii. 23.
    Besides it leaveth a suspicion, as if more might be said than is expressed.   --Bacon.
 3. To cease from; to desist from; to abstain from.
    Now leave complaining and begin your tea.   --Pope.
 4. To desert; to abandon; to forsake; hence, to give up; to relinquish.
    Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.   --Mark x. 28.
    The heresies that men do leave.   --Shak.
 5. To let be or do without interference; as, I left him to his reflections; I leave my hearers to judge.
    I will leave you now to your gossiplike humor.   --Shak.
 6. To put; to place; to deposit; to deliver; to commit; to submit -- with a sense of withdrawing one's self from; as, leave your hat in the hall; we left our cards; to leave the matter to arbitrators.
    Leave there thy gift before the altar and go thy way.   --Matt. v. 24.
 The foot
 That leaves the print of blood where'er it walks.   --Shak.
 7. To have remaining at death; hence, to bequeath; as, he left a large estate; he left a good name; he left a legacy to his niece.
 To leave alone. (a) To leave in solitude. (b) To desist or refrain from having to do with; as, to leave dangerous chemicals alone.
 To leave off. (a) To desist from; to forbear; to stop; as, to leave off work at six o'clock. (b) To cease wearing or using; to omit to put in the usual position; as, to leave off a garment; to leave off the tablecloth. (c) To forsake; as, to leave off a bad habit.
 To leave out, to omit; as, to leave out a word or name in writing.
 To leave to one's self, to let (one) be alone; to cease caring for (one).
 Syn: -- To quit; depart from; forsake; abandon; relinquish; deliver; bequeath; give up; forego; resign; surrender; forbear. See Quit.