释义 |
let1 /lɛt /verb (lets, letting; past and past participle let)1 [with object and infinitive] Not prevent or forbid; allow: my boss let me leave early you mustn’t let yourself get so involved...- He doesn't let his busy schedule prevent him from visiting Scotland regularly.
- The padding helps prevent soreness and lets you spend more time on the saddle.
- But his boss won't let him leave - at least not until he completes one final contract.
Synonyms allow, permit, give permission to, give leave to, authorize, sanction, grant, grant the right to, warrant, license, empower, enable, entitle; assent to, consent to, agree to, acquiesce in, accede to, approve of, tolerate, countenance, suffer, brook, admit of, give one's blessing to, give assent to; cause, make informal give the green light to, give the go-ahead to, give the thumbs up to, give someone/something the nod, say the magic word, OK 1.1 [with object and adverbial of direction] Allow to pass in a particular direction: could you let the dog out? a tiny window that let in hardly any light...- Torches lined the stairs, and an occasional stained-glass window let in some light.
- They let heat in but prevent it from getting out.
- The following morning I'm woken up nice and early by the builders letting themselves in to the apartment.
Synonyms allow to go, permit to pass; make way for 2 [with object and infinitive] Used in the imperative to formulate various expressions: 2.1 ( let us or let's) Used as a polite way of making or responding to a suggestion, giving an instruction, or introducing a remark: let’s have a drink ‘Shall we go?’ 'Yes, let’s...- Also let's not forget the traffic lights on the Salisbury road also creating major tailbacks.
- This, let's not forget, is the man who only this week pretended to cut off part of his ear in a press conference.
- Finally, let's not forget that Bermuda is only one mile wide and surrounded by water.
2.2 ( let me or let us) Used to make an offer of help: ‘Here, let me,’ offered Bruce...- If you must continue with this project, then please let me help with the images.
- Here, let me do your bow tie.
- ‘Here, let me,’ Emily said, coming to her aid.
2.3Used to express one’s strong desire for something to happen or be the case: ‘Dear God,’ Jessica prayed, ‘let him be all right.’...- Let him soothe me, let him calm me, let his strong arms encircle me and protect me.
- Every day we wake up, we pray please let today be the day we have the answers.
- Every match I play, I still think ‘Oh my God, please let it end.’
2.4Used as a way of expressing defiance or challenge: if he wants to walk out, well let him!...- If they want a challenge, let them clean up the damage they have caused.
- If some want to mount an eleventh-hour challenge, let them come out in the open.
- However I was aware that we lived in a world where I can make up my own mind, so if I want to smoke then let me.
2.5Used to express an assumption upon which a theory or calculation is to be based: let A and B stand for X and Y respectively...- Let x be the observed value of this statistic.
- Let L be the earth's equator and let x be a point in the northern hemisphere.
- Let the line equal to line AG be AD, and let DG be joined.
3 [with object] chiefly British Allow someone to have the use of (a room or property) in return for regular payments: she let the flat to a tenant they’ve let out their house...- Letters have been sent to solicitors and letting agents after police found people are letting properties for themselves then sub-letting them to prostitutes.
- The council also wants to start targeting private landlords in a bid to encourage them to consider letting their properties to people receiving housing benefit.
- She will take charge of letting the property in the future.
Synonyms rent out, let out, rent, lease, hire, hire out, loan, give on loan, sublet, sublease, farm out, contract, charge for the use of 3.1Award (a contract for a project) to an applicant: preliminary contracts were let and tunnelling work started...- The firm will be responsible for training staff and letting the operating contract and will give advice on waste systems engineering, policy and planning.
- The Government let the contract to an English firm.
- The changes and delays in fund-raising and letting contracts pushed the opening to this summer.
noun British1A period during which a room or property is rented: I’ve taken a month’s let on the flat...- While short lets of a week, a month or six months cost substantially more, reductions are offered for a standard year-long contract.
- If you intend to let the property for short-term holiday lets, then the service will need to include changeovers and handover of the keys.
- Fully furnished, it is set up for holiday and short-term lets.
1.1A property available for rent: an unfurnished let...- He gave his support to preventing houses being bought as second homes or holiday lets.
- The Landmark Trust buys and restores interesting and historic building at risk, restores them and lets them out as holiday lets, so that the income can pay for their continued maintenance.
- Similar barns had been converted to holiday lets.
Phrases let alone let someone/thing alone let someone/thing be let someone down gently let something drop (or fall) let fall let fly let oneself go let someone/thing go let someone have it let in (or out) the clutch let something drop (or rest) let something go (or pass) let someone know let someone/thing loose let me see (or think) let me tell you let off steam let rip let's face it (or let's be honest) let slip let's pretend let's say (or let us say) to let Phrasal verbs let down let someone down let something down let someone in let oneself in for let someone in on/into let something into let someone off let something off let on let out let someone out let something out let up Origin Old English lǣtan 'leave behind, leave out', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch laten and German lassen, also to late. Rhymes abet, aiguillette, anisette, Annette, Antoinette, arête, Arlette, ate, baguette, banquette, barbette, barrette, basinet, bassinet, beget, Bernadette, beset, bet, Bette, blanquette, Brett, briquette, brochette, brunette (US brunet), Burnett, cadet, caravanette, cassette, castanet, charette, cigarette (US cigaret), clarinet, Claudette, Colette, coquette, corvette, couchette, courgette, croquette, curette, curvet, Debrett, debt, dinette, diskette, duet, epaulette (US epaulet), flageolet, flannelette, forget, fret, galette, gazette, Georgette, get, godet, grisette, heavyset, Jeanette, jet, kitchenette, La Fayette, landaulet, launderette, layette, lazaret, leatherette, Lett, lorgnette, luncheonette, lunette, Lynette, maisonette, majorette, maquette, Marie-Antoinette, marionette, Marquette, marquisette, martinet, met, minaret, minuet, moquette, motet, musette, Nanette, net, noisette, nonet, novelette, nymphet, octet, Odette, on-set, oubliette, Paulette, pet, Phuket, picquet, pillaret, pincette, pipette, piquet, pirouette, planchette, pochette, quartet, quickset, quintet, regret, ret, Rhett, roomette, rosette, roulette, satinette, septet, serviette, sestet, set, sett, sextet, silhouette, soubrette, spinet, spinneret, statuette, stet, stockinet, sublet, suffragette, Suzette, sweat, thickset, threat, Tibet, toilette, tret, underlet, upset, usherette, vedette, vet, vignette, vinaigrette, wagonette, wet, whet, winceyette, yet, Yvette let2 /lɛt /noun(In racket sports) a circumstance under which a service is nullified and has to be taken again, especially (in tennis) when the ball clips the top of the net and falls within bounds: he was obstructed and asked for a let...- In a first game that lasted nearly 30 minutes, she maintained her composure through a series of lets, strokes, and no lets.
- I believe I have a very good understanding of lets and strokes.
- If you encounter interference and then play the ball, you have no right to a let.
verb (lets, letting; past and past participle letted or let) [with object] archaicHinder: pray you let us not; we fain would greet our mother...- As Jesus Christ hath appointed a regular government and discipline in his Church, no law of any commonwealth should interfere with, let, or hinder, the due exercise thereof, among the voluntary members of any denomination of Christians, according to their own profession and belief.
- Pray you let us not; We fain would greet our mother.
- If God be with a work, who is he that will let or impede it?
Phrases play a let without let or hindrance Origin Old English lettan 'hinder', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch letten, also to late. |