Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Language: Old English
Origin: læf

leave

2 noun
     
Related topics: Conditions of Employment
leave2 S3 W2
1

holiday

[uncountable]BEC time that you are allowed to spend away from your work, especially in the armed forces:
I've applied for three days' leave.
on leave
navy officers home on leave
Your basic annual leave is 20 days.
2BEC

maternity/sick/compassionate leave

time that you are allowed to spend away from work because you have had a baby, because you are ill, or because of a personal problem such as the death of a relative
3

leave of absence

BEC a period of time that you are allowed to spend away from work for a particular purpose:
She's been given leave of absence to attend a computer course.
4

permission

[uncountable] formal permission to do something:
All this was done entirely without my leave.
leave to do something
a petition for leave to appeal to the European court
grant/obtain/ask/seek etc leave (to do something)
He asked leave to speak to her in private.
5

without so much as a by your leave

old-fashioned without asking permission, in a way that seems very rude:
He marched into my office without so much as a by your leave.
6

take leave of your senses

to suddenly start behaving in a strange way:
You want to marry him? Have you taken leave of your senses?
7

take leave of somebody/take your leave

formal to say goodbye to someone
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
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