lease 790
**lease¹** /liːs/ *n* **1** a written legal agreement by which the use of a building or piece of land is given by its owner to someone for a certain time in return for rent: *She bought the house on a 99-year lease. | We've taken a lease on an office building. | The lease expires next month.* $\rightarrow$ see Cultural Note at LEASEHOLD see also COMMONHOLD, FREEHOLD, GROUND RENT **2 a new lease of life** (*BrE*)/on life (*AmE*) the ability to be happy, active, and successful again, especially after being weak or tired: *That long holiday has given me a new lease of life.***lease²** *v* [T(OUT)] **1** to give or take the use of (land or buildings) on a lease: *This company leases out property. | [+obj(i)+obj(d)] We will lease you the house for a year.* | 'Do you own the freehold of your house?' 'No, I lease it.' **2** *tech* to rent or hire (expensive machinery or equipment: *Leasing (these cars) is tax-deductible. | We lease all our computers these days.***lease-back** /'liːsbæk/ *n* [C;U] an arrangement by which one sells or gives something to someone, but then continues to have the use of it in return for rent**lease-hold** /'liːshəʊld/ *adj, adv* especially *BrE* (of land or buildings) owned only for as long as is stated in a lease: *'Is your flat leasehold?' 'Yes, we bought it leasehold.'* $\rightarrow$ compare COMMONHOLD, FREEHOLD; see also LEASE¹**CULTURAL NOTE** In England, Ireland, and Wales, many apartments and some houses are **leasehold**, especially in London. If you buy a leasehold property, you own it for a fixed amount of time which is stated in the **lease**, and typically you pay **ground rent** to the owner of the **freehold** (=the right to own a property permanently). A lease can last for a very long time, sometimes hundreds of years. If you buy a leasehold property, you can often buy the freehold to it. In Scotland, almost all property is **freehold**. $\rightarrow$ see also COMMONHOLD**lease·hold·er** /'liːsˌhəʊldə/ *n* someone who lives in a leasehold house, flat etc
**leash** /liːʃ/ *n AmE* or *BrE fml* for LEAD: *Dogs must be kept on a leash.* | (*fig.*) *Let off the leash of government restrictions, the council increased its spending rapidly.***least¹** /liːst/ *adv* (superlative of LITTLE) **1** less than anything else or than any others: *It happened just when we least expected it. | one of the least known of the modern poets* $\rightarrow$ opposite MOST **2 least of all** especially not: *No one listened, least of all the children!* **3 not least** *fml* partly; quite importantly: *Trade has been bad, not least because of the increased cost of imported raw materials.***least²** *determiner, pron* (superlative of LITTLE) **1** the smallest number, amount etc: *Buy the one that costs (the) least. | Finding enough money is the least of our problems. | 'Thank you very much.' 'Not at all; it was the least I could do.' (=a polite reply to thanks)* $\rightarrow$ opposite MOST; see FEW (USAGE) **2** [usually in negatives] slightest: *I haven't the least idea where she is. (=I don't know at all)* **3 at least: a)** (used for mentioning some small advantage in something, that makes its disadvantages seem not so bad): *The food wasn't good, but at least it was cheap.* **b)** (used for lessening the force or certainty of something said): *He left last Tuesday – at least, I think he did.* **4 at (the) least** not less than: *It costs at least £5. | At the (very) least, it's going to cost £5.* $\rightarrow$ opposite at (the) most (MOST²) **5 in the least** [usually in negatives] at all: *He's not in the least worried. | 'You must find such long hours very tiring.' 'Not in the least – I enjoy it.'* **6 to say the least (of it)** (used for describing something bad without using strong words, but showing that one really disapproves of it a lot): *It was rather thoughtless of him, to say the least.***‚least ‚common 'multiple** $\rightarrow$ see LOWEST COMMON MULTIPLE
**least·wise** /'liːstwaɪz/ also **least·ways** /-weɪz/ *adv AmE infml* at least: *He was there a minute ago, leastwise that's what Sue said.***leath·er** /'leðə/ *n* [U] **1** animal skin that has been treated to preserve it, used for making shoes, bags etc: *a leather coat* **2** the crack of leather on willow *BrE* the sound made by a CRICKET ball (made of leather) hitting a BAT (made of wood from the WILLOW tree), often used as a way of referring to the game of cricket
**leath·er·ette** /ˌleðə'ret/ *trademark* a type of cheap material made to look like leather: *a hideous leatherette sofa***leath·er·neck** /'leðənek/ *n AmE slang* a member of the US Marine Corps
**leath·er·y** /'leðəri/ *adj* often *derog* like leather; hard and stiff: *leathery meat/skin*
**leave¹** /liːv/ *v* **left** /left/ **1** [I(for);T] to go away (from): *We must leave (the party) early. | When shall we leave for (=in order to go to) the party? | We're leaving from the main station at six o'clock. (=that is when our train journey starts)* | *He wanted to go to the toilet, and asked if he could leave the room.* **2** [I;T] to stop being in or with (a place, organization, person etc): *I’m leaving England and going to live in Spain. | He left his wife three months ago. | We're giving him a party when he leaves. (=stops working for our company etc)* | *a leaving present* **3** [T(BEHIND)] to go without taking; *I must go back; I've left (=forgotten to bring) my car keys (behind).* | *I left the paperwork at the office.* **4** [T] to cause to be or remain in a particular state or position: *Let's leave the washing up (until tomorrow).* (=not do it until tomorrow) | *How were things left after the meeting? (=what arrangements were settled)* | *He left his car in the middle of the road. | Paying for the car repairs has left us without a penny. | [+obj+adj] Will you leave the door open when you go out? | The President's sudden death has left the country leaderless. | [+obj+-ing] She left me waiting in the rain.* | *Her narrow escape left her feeling shaken.* **5** [T] to cause to remain afterwards as an effect: *The injury left a scar (on his face).* **6** [T] to allow (something) to be the responsibility of (someone) or to be decided by (something): [+obj+with] *He left the children with me while he went to get a paper.* | [+obj+to] *'Which film shall we go and see?' 'I'll leave it to you.' (=you can choose)* | [+v-ing] *I'll leave buying the tickets to you.* | [+obj+to-v] *I'll leave you to buy the tickets. | I'll leave it to you to buy the tickets.* **7** [T(OVER)] to allow to remain untaken, unused, unchanged, uneaten etc: *Don't leave your cabbage.* | *There were some chairs left over when everyone had sat down.* **8** [T] to place or deliver (a letter, parcel, message etc): *The postman has left a letter for you. | [+obj(i)+obj(d)] The postman has left you a letter. | If I'm out, leave a message with my secretary.* **9** [T] to have remaining after death: *He leaves a wife and two children. | He left his family well provided for.* **10** [T(to)] to give through a WILL after one's death: *She left £250,000. | She left all her property to her husband. | [+obj(i)+obj(d)] She left her husband all her property.* **11** [L(+obj)+n] to give the stated result after taking one number away from another: *Two from eight leaves (you) six.* **12 leave go/hold of** *BrE infml* to stop holding: *Leave go of my hair!* **13 leave it at that** to do or say no more; not argue any further **14 leave someone/something alone** to stop behaving annoyingly in someone's presence or touching something: *Go away and leave me alone! | Leave that ornament alone; you might break it.* **15 leave someone/something be** to allow someone/something to remain untouched, unused, in proper position or order etc: *'The baby's crying!' 'Leave him be; he'll soon stop.'* $\rightarrow$ compare let someone/something be (LET¹) **16 leave someone cold** to fail to excite or interest someone: *Frankly, opera leaves me cold.* **17 leave someone/something standing** *BrE infml* to be much better than someone/something: *This director's films leave the others standing.* **18 leave someone to themself/to their own devices** to allow or force someone to act on their own, without offering them any help, telling them what to do etc **19 leave well (enough) alone** to make no change to something that is satisfactory, in case one makes things worse rather than better **—leaver** *n: school leavers***leave off (sthg.)** *phr v* [I;T] *infml, rare in AmE* to stop (doing something); give up: *I wish the rain would leave off. | She was so ill she had to leave off work.* | [+v-ing] *Leave off making that noise! Can't you see I'm trying to work?***leave sbdy./sthg. $\rightarrow$ out** *phr v* [T(of)] **1** to fail to include: *You've left out the most important word in this sentence. | England has left Smith out (of their cricket team). | Don't leave me out when you're giving out the invitations!* **2** to fail to accept or make welcome into a social group: *No one speaks to him; he's always left out/he always feels left out.* **3 Leave it out!** *BrE slang* Stop lying, pretending, or being annoying!**leave²** *n* [C;U] time spent away from work or duty, especially in government or army service: *I'm in command of the*
