left

1 syllable

Quick answer

As an adjective, left means designating the side of the body toward the west when one is facing north. As an adverb, it means on the left side.

Meanings of left

19 meanings

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: ←
“The left side.”
geographyDesignating 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.
politicsLeft-wing; pertaining to the political left.
Not used up
“leftover meatloaf”
“she had a little money left over so she went to a movie”
“some odd dollars left”
Similar: leftover, left over, odd, remaining, unexpended
Intended for the left hand
“I rarely lose a left-hand glove”
Similar: left-hand

adverb

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.”
Toward or on the left; also used figuratively
“he looked right and left”
“the political party has moved left”

noun

The left side or direction.
politicsThe 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.
boxingA punch delivered with the left fist.
surfingA wave breaking from left to right (viewed from the shore).
Location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces eastlocation
“she stood on the left”
Those who support varying degrees of social or political or economic change designed to promote the public welfare
Similar: left wing
The hand that is on the left side of the bodybody
“jab with your left”
Similar: left hand
The piece of ground in the outfield on the catcher's left
“the batter flied out to left”
Similar: left field, leftfield
A turn toward the side of the body that is on the north when the person is facing east
“take a left at the corner”

verb

Simple past tense and past participle of leave ("depart, separate from; (cause or allow to) remain").
Simple past tense and past participle of leave ("permit").

Meanings from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0).