# leaves

/ˈɫivz/ (US) · /lˈiːvz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/leaves
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. parts of a plant

noun · CEFR A1

the green, flat parts of a tree or plant that grow from the branches.

For teachers: the plural form of 'leaf', referring to the lateral outgrowths from a plant stem, typically green and functioning as the primary site of photosynthesis.

- In the autumn, the leaves turn from green to bright red and orange.
- The forest floor was carpeted with damp, decaying leaves that muffled the sound of our footsteps as we hiked through the valley.

### 2. to go away from

verb · CEFR A1

to go away from a place or person.

For teachers: the third-person singular present indicative of 'leave', meaning to depart from a location or person.

- The train leaves the station at exactly ten o'clock every morning.
- She leaves for the office before the rest of the family wakes up, ensuring she avoids the worst of the morning rush-hour traffic.

Usage: Used with 'he', 'she', 'it', or a singular noun subject.

### 3. to forget or place

verb · CEFR A2

to forget something somewhere, or to let something stay in a certain state.

For teachers: the third-person singular present indicative of 'leave', meaning to allow something to remain in a specific place or condition.

- He always leaves his keys on the kitchen table when he comes home.
- The chef leaves the sauce to simmer on a low heat while he prepares the rest of the ingredients for the main course.

## Examples

- The leaves on the trees turn red in October.
- We spent the entire afternoon raking dry leaves into large piles in the backyard.
- Deciduous trees conserve energy during the winter months by shedding their leaves, a process triggered by the reduction in daylight and falling temperatures.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.