Pronunciations (5)
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/ˈlɛft/
Pronunciation notes
- Ireland
- Received-Pronunciation
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/ˈɫɛft/
Pronunciation notes
- General-American
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/ˈlɛf/
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/ˈlɛfʔ/
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lɛft
Adjective
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: ←
- Examples
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Near-synonym: port
The left side.
Anticlockwise, particularly when describing a change in direction or orientation.
- Examples
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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 tilde is on the left side of the river.
- Examples
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The Eiffel Tower is on the left bank of the Seine.
More examples (1)
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.
- Antonyms
- Examples
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More examples (2)
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.
Relating to the beginning or earlier part of a phrase.
- Examples
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left dislocation
Adverb
On the left side.
Usage- not-comparable
- Antonyms
Towards the left side.
Usage- not-comparable
- Antonyms
- Examples
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Turn left at the corner. NO! Your other left.
Towards the political left.
Usage- not-comparable
- Antonyms
- Examples
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The East Coast of the US leans left in elections.
Noun
The left side or direction.
- Synonyms
- 9 o'clockport
The left-wing political parties as a group; citizens holding left-wing views as a group.
- Examples
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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.
- Examples
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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).
- Antonyms
Adjective
leftover, remaining
Usage- not-comparable
Adjective
being or located on or directed toward the side of the body to the west when facing north
- Antonyms
- Examples
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my left hand
left center field
More examples (1)
the left bank of a river is bank on your left side when you are facing downstream
not used up
- Examples
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leftover meatloaf
she had a little money left over so she went to a movie
More examples (3)
some odd dollars left
saved the remaining sandwiches for supper
unexpended provisions
intended for the left hand
- Synonyms
- Examples
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I rarely lose a left-hand glove
of or belonging to the political or intellectual left
Noun
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
- Antonyms
- Examples
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she stood on the left
those who support varying degrees of social or political or economic change designed to promote the public welfare
- Synonyms
the hand that is on the left side of the body
- Synonyms
- Examples
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jab with your left
the piece of ground in the outfield on the catcher's left
- Synonyms
- Examples
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the batter flied out to left
a turn toward the side of the body that is on the north when the person is facing east
- Examples
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take a left at the corner
Adverb
toward or on the left; also used figuratively
- Antonyms
- Examples
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he looked right and left
the political party has moved left