left

UK /ˈlɛft/ US /ˈlɛft/

noun 5adj 4adv 3name 1

Definitions

adj

Designating the side of the body toward the west when one is facing north; the side of the body on which the heart is located in most humans; the opposite of right. This arrow points to the reader's left: ←

Near-synonym: port

The left side.

Anticlockwise, particularly when describing a change in direction or orientation.

The road up ahead contains a left bend.

Rotate the bolt to the left to loosen it.

Designating the bank of a river (etc.) on one's left when facing downstream (i.e. facing forward while floating with the current); that is, the north bank of a river that flows eastward. If this arrow: ⥲ shows the direction of the current,

The Eiffel Tower is on the left bank of the Seine.

The following dispatch has been received from Viceroy Alexieff, dated Mukden, March 22: “Gen. Mitchenkow reports that on March 17 our scouts approached Anju and observed on the left bank of the Ching Chong river, opposite Anju, retrenchments made by the enemy.

Left-wing; pertaining to the political left.

It should be noted that there is now no intelligentsia that is not in some sense "Left". Perhaps the last right-wing intellectual was T. E. Lawrence. Since about 1930 everyone describable as an “intellectual” has lived in a state of chronic discontent with the existing order.

Who does not know the practical man who in his own field denounces socialism as "pernicious rot" but when he steps outside his subject spouts socialism like any left journalist.

adv

On the left side.

Towards the left side.

Turn left at the corner. NO! Your other left.

Towards the political left.

The East Coast of the US leans left in elections.

noun

The left side or direction.

The left-wing political parties as a group; citizens holding left-wing views as a group.

The Left left workers behind, thinking they had a winning demographic coalition. It hasn't really worked out for them yet.

The left hand or fist.

A punch delivered with the left fist.

The world 'as got me snouted jist a treat; Crool Forchin's dirty left 'as smote me soul.

A wave breaking from left to right (viewed from the shore).

Collocations

(noun.) side

ADJ

extreme, far

The protesters gathered on the far left side of the street during the march.

VERB + LEFT

turn to

When you turn to your left at the traffic light, you'll find the supermarket.

PREP

from the ~

A dog suddenly appeared from the left and started barking at us.

on the/your ~

When you enter the classroom, the teacher's desk is on your left.

on the ~ of

The bathroom is on the left of the kitchen when you enter the apartment.

to the/your ~

When you reach the traffic light, turn to your left and you'll see the library.

to the ~ of

The kitchen sink sits to the left of the window where we can see the garden.

PHRASES

from left to right; from right to left

When you read English, your eyes move from left to right across the page.

(noun.) the left: political groups

ADJ

extreme, far

PREP

of the ~

The political party of the left won the election with a strong environmental platform.

on the ~

The liberal candidates are positioned on the left side of the political spectrum.

to the ~

Her political views are slightly to the left compared to most people in her community.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

noun — the piece of ground in the outfield on the catcher's left

leftfield

Antonyms

Idioms & Phrases

two left feet

Clumsiness, especially at dancing or in sports involving kicking a ball.

He should stay off the dance floor with his two left feet.

be left holding the baby

To be left with the responsibility of resolving a problem.

exit stage left

An orderly and uneventful departure, timed so as not to detract or distract.

We played until our fellow participants began to reenter the gym. Then we pulled on our shirts, left the ball for dead on the foul line, and made a quick exit stage left.

Elvis has left the building

A phrase used to announce the end of a show, usually one performed by an Elvis impersonator.

That '50s look can do one / Elvis has definitely left the fucking building

please turn left

When giving directions to a person (for example, a taxi driver), indicates that he or she should turn left.

Example Bank

Near-synonym: port

Wiktionary

The left side.

Wiktionary

The road up ahead contains a left bend.

Wiktionary

Turn left at the corner. NO! Your other left.

Wiktionary

The East Coast of the US leans left in elections.

Wiktionary

The Left left workers behind, thinking they had a winning demographic coalition. It hasn't really worked out for them yet.

Wiktionary

Usage Notes

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