Leaf vs. Leave: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on October 7, 2023
"Leaf" refers to the green, photosynthetic part of a plant, while "leave" is a verb meaning to go away from a place or person.
Key Differences
"Leaf" primarily denotes a part of a plant, typically green, that is attached to the stem and is responsible for photosynthesis. "Leave," however, is a verb that represents the action of departing from a place or a person. They are fundamentally different, one being a noun describing a component of flora, and the other being a verb depicting an action of moving away.
The word "leaf" is used mainly in the context of botany and nature, symbolizing growth, life, and nature. On the other hand, "leave" is employed to convey the act of departure, suggesting separation, farewell, or abandonment. Thus, "leaf" is usually associated with life and growth, while "leave" may often indicate separation or detachment.
While "leaf" serves predominantly as a noun, "leave" can serve both as a verb and a noun. In its noun form, "leave" can refer to a period of permission to be absent, typically from work. "Leaf" has a more narrow and concrete definition, while "leave" has a broader range and can represent different concepts in different contexts.
"Leaf" can also be used in various idiomatic expressions like "turning over a new leaf," meaning making a fresh start. "Leave" has several meanings too; it can mean permission granted to be absent, as in "taking leave," or it can also imply leaving something behind or remaining, as in "leave it alone." These words, while seemingly simple, carry varying meanings and are used in multiple contexts and expressions in the English language.
Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Noun
Verb/Noun
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Meaning
A flat, typically green, part of a plant.
To go away from a place or person.
Usage Context
Botany, Nature
Departure, Absence, Separation
Idiomatic Use
"Turn over a new leaf."
"Take leave," "leave it alone."
Variability
Mostly singular/plural forms.
Can have different forms and tenses.
Leaf and Leave Definitions
Leaf
A page in a book or on a calendar.
She turned the leaf to read the next chapter.
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Leave
To go away from a location or individual.
He decided to leave the party early.
Leaf
A hinged or detachable flat section.
The table had an additional leaf to extend its length.
Leave
Permission to be absent from work.
She is on leave for two weeks.
Leaf
A usually green, flattened, lateral structure attached to a stem and functioning as a principal organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in most plants.
Leave
To let something remain in a place.
Leave your shoes at the door.
Leaf
A leaflike organ or structure.
Leave
To quit or resign from a job or position.
He had to leave his job due to health issues.
Leaf
Leaves considered as a group; foliage.
Leave
To go out of or away from
Not allowed to leave the room.
Leaf
The state or time of having or showing leaves
Trees in full leaf.
Leave
To go without taking or removing
Left my book on the bus.
Leaf
The leaves of a plant used or processed for a specific purpose
Large supplies of tobacco leaf.
Leave
To omit or exclude
Left out the funniest part of the story.
Leaf
Any of the sheets of paper bound in a book, each side of which constitutes a page.
Leave
To have as a result, consequence, or remainder
The car left a trail of exhaust fumes. Two from eight leaves six.
Leaf
A very thin sheet of material, especially metal.
Leave
To cause or allow to be or remain in a specified state
Left the lights on.
Leaf
Such leaves considered as a group
Covered in gold leaf.
Leave
To have remaining after death
Left a young son.
Leaf
A hinged or removable section for a table top.
Leave
To bequeath
Left her money to charity.
Leaf
A hinged or otherwise movable section of a folding door, shutter, or gate.
Leave
To give over to another to control or act on
Leave all the details to us.
Leaf
A section of drawbridge that moves upward or to the side.
Leave
To abandon or forsake
Leave home.
Left her husband.
Leaf
One of several metal strips forming a leaf spring.
Leave
To remove oneself from association with or participation in
Left the navy for civilian life.
Leaf
To produce leaves; put forth foliage
Trees just beginning to leaf.
Leave
To give or deposit, as for use or information, upon one's departure or in one's absence
He left a note for you. Leave your name and address.
Leaf
To turn pages, as in searching or browsing
Leafed through the catalog.
Leave
To cause or permit to be or remain
Left myself plenty of time.
Leaf
To turn through the pages of.
Leave
(Nonstandard) To allow or permit; let.
Leaf
The usually green and flat organ that represents the most prominent feature of most vegetative plants.
Leave
To set out or depart; go
When can you leave?.
Leaf
Anything resembling the leaf of a plant.
Leave
To put forth foliage; leaf.
Leaf
A sheet of a book, magazine, etc (consisting of two pages, one on each face of the leaf).
Leave
Permission to do something.
Leaf
A sheet of any substance beaten or rolled until very thin.
Gold leaf
Leave
An act of departing; a farewell
Took leave of her with a heavy heart.
Leaf
Two pages.
Leave
See leave of absence.
Leaf
(in the plural) Tea leaves.
Leave
To have a consequence or remnant.
Leaf
A flat section used to extend the size of a table.
Leave
(transitive) To cause or allow (something) to remain as available; to refrain from taking (something) away; to stop short of consuming or otherwise depleting (something) entirely.
I left my car at home and took a bus to work.
The ants did not leave so much as a crumb of bread.
There's not much food left. We'd better go to the shops.
Leaf
A moveable panel, e.g. of a bridge or door, originally one that hinged but now also applied to other forms of movement.
The train car has one single-leaf and two double-leaf doors per side.
Leave
To cause, to result in.
The lightning left her dazzled for several minutes.
Infantile paralysis left him lame for the rest of his life.
She left disappointed.
Leaf
(botany) A foliage leaf or any of the many and often considerably different structures it can specialise into.
Leave
(transitive) To put; to place; to deposit; to deliver, with a sense of withdrawing oneself.
Leave your hat in the hall.
We should leave the legal matters to lawyers.
I left my sewing and went to the window to watch the falling snow.
Leaf
In a tree, a node that has no descendants.
Leave
To depart; to separate from.
Leaf
The layer of fat supporting the kidneys of a pig, leaf fat.
Leave
To let be or do without interference.
I left him to his reflections.
I leave my hearers to judge.
Leaf
One of the teeth of a pinion, especially when small.
Leave
(transitive) To depart from; to end one's connection or affiliation with.
I left the country and I left my wife.
Leaf
Cannabis.
Leave
(transitive) To end one's membership in (a group); to terminate one's affiliation with (an organization); to stop participating in (a project).
I left the band.
Leaf
A Canadian person.
Leave
(intransitive) To depart; to go away from a certain place or state.
I think you'd better leave.
Leaf
(intransitive) To produce leaves; put forth foliage.
Leave
To transfer something.
Leaf
(transitive) To divide (a vegetable) into separate leaves.
The lettuce in our burgers is 100% hand-leafed.
Leave
(transitive) To transfer possession of after death.
When my father died, he left me the house.
Leaf
A colored, usually green, expansion growing from the side of a stem or rootstock, in which the sap for the use of the plant is elaborated under the influence of light; one of the parts of a plant which collectively constitute its foliage.
Leave
(transitive) To give (something) to someone; to deliver (something) to a repository; to deposit.
I'll leave the car in the station so you can pick it up there.
Leaf
A special organ of vegetation in the form of a lateral outgrowth from the stem, whether appearing as a part of the foliage, or as a cotyledon, a scale, a bract, a spine, or a tendril.
Leave
(transitive) To transfer responsibility or attention of (something) (to someone); to stop being concerned with.
Can't we just leave this to the experts?
Leaf
Something which is like a leaf in being wide and thin and having a flat surface, or in being attached to a larger body by one edge or end;
They were both determined to turn over a new leaf.
Leave
To remain (behind); to stay.
Leaf
To shoot out leaves; to produce leaves; to leave; as, the trees leaf in May.
Leave
To stop, desist from; to "leave off" (+ noun / gerund).
Leaf
The main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
Leave
(transitive) To give leave to; allow; permit; let; grant.
We were not left go to the beach after school except on a weekend.
Leaf
A sheet of any written or printed material (especially in a manuscript or book)
Leave
To produce leaves or foliage.
Leaf
Hinged or detachable flat section (as of a table or door)
Leave
(obsolete) To raise; to levy.
Leaf
Look through a book or other written material;
He thumbed through the report
She leafed through the volume
Leave
(cricket) The action of the batsman not attempting to play at the ball.
Leaf
Turn over pages;
Leaf through a book
Leaf a manuscript
Leave
(billiards) The arrangement of balls in play that remains after a shot is made (which determines whether the next shooter — who may be either the same player, or an opponent — has good options, or only poor ones).
Leaf
Produce leaves, of plants
Leave
Permission to be absent; time away from one's work.
I've been given three weeks' leave by my boss.
Leaf
A typically green, flattened structure of a plant.
The leaf glistened with morning dew.
Leave
Permission.
Might I beg leave to accompany you?
The applicant now seeks leave to appeal and, if leave be granted, to appeal against these sentences.
Leaf
A part of a plant specialized for photosynthesis.
The leaf absorbed sunlight, converting it into energy.
Leave
(dated) Farewell, departure.
I took my leave of the gentleman without a backward glance.
Leaf
A component of something layered.
She pealed a leaf off the artichoke.
Leave
To send out leaves; to leaf; - often with out.
Leave
To raise; to levy.
An army strong she leaved.
Leave
To withdraw one's self from; to go away from; to depart from; as, to leave the house.
Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife.
Leave
To let remain unremoved or undone; to let stay or continue, in distinction from what is removed or changed.
If grape gatherers come to thee, would they not leave some gleaning grapes ?
These ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Besides it leaveth a suspicion, as if more might be said than is expressed.
Leave
To cease from; to desist from; to abstain from.
Now leave complaining and begin your tea.
Leave
To desert; to abandon; to forsake; hence, to give up; to relinquish.
Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
The heresies that men do leave.
Leave
To let be or do without interference; as, I left him to his reflections; I leave my hearers to judge.
I will leave you now to your gossiplike humor.
Leave
To put; to place; to deposit; to deliver; to commit; to submit - with a sense of withdrawing one's self from; as, leave your hat in the hall; we left our cards; to leave the matter to arbitrators.
Leave there thy gift before the altar and go thy way.
The footThat leaves the print of blood where'er it walks.
Leave
To have remaining at death; hence, to bequeath; as, he left a large estate; he left a good name; he left a legacy to his niece.
Leave
To cause to be; - followed by an adjective or adverb describing a state or condition; as, the losses due to fire leave me penniless; The cost of defending himself left Bill Clinton with a mountain of lawyers' bills.
Leave
To depart; to set out.
By the time I left for Scotland.
Leave
To cease; to desist; to leave off.
Leave off, and for another summons wait.
Leave
Liberty granted by which restraint or illegality is removed; permission; allowance; license.
David earnestly asked leave of me.
No friend has leave to bear away the dead.
Leave
The act of leaving or departing; a formal parting; a leaving; farewell; adieu; - used chiefly in the phrase, to take leave, i. e., literally, to take permission to go.
A double blessing is a'double grace;Occasion smiles upon a second leave.
And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren.
Leave
The period of time during which you are absent from work or duty;
A ten day's leave to visit his mother
Leave
Permission to do something;
She was granted leave to speak
Leave
The act of departing politely;
He disliked long farewells
He took his leave
Parting is such sweet sorrow
Leave
Go away from a place;
At what time does your train leave?
She didn't leave until midnight
The ship leaves at midnight
Leave
Go and leave behind, either intentionally or by neglect or forgetfulness;
She left a mess when she moved out
His good luck finally left him
Her husband left her after 20 years of marriage
She wept thinking she had been left behind
Leave
Act or be so as to become in a specified state;
The inflation left them penniless
The president's remarks left us speechless
Leave
Leave unchanged or undisturbed or refrain from taking;
Leave it as is
Leave the young fawn alone
Leave the flowers that you see in the park behind
Leave
Move out of or depart from;
Leave the room
The fugitive has left the country
Leave
Make a possibility or provide opportunity for; permit to be attainable or cause to remain;
This leaves no room for improvement
The evidence allows only one conclusion
Allow for mistakes
Leave lots of time for the trip
This procedure provides for lots of leeway
Leave
Result in;
The water left a mark on the silk dress
Her blood left a stain on the napkin
Leave
Remove oneself from an association with or participation in;
She wants to leave
The teenager left home
She left her position with the Red Cross
He left the Senate after two terms
After 20 years with the same company, she pulled up stakes
Leave
Put into the care or protection of someone;
He left the decision to his deputy
Leave your child the nurse's care
Leave
Leave or give by will after one's death;
My aunt bequeathed me all her jewelry
My grandfather left me his entire estate
Leave
Have left or have as a remainder;
That left the four of us
19 minus 8 leaves 11
Leave
Be survived by after one's death;
He left six children
At her death, she left behind her husband and 11 cats
Leave
Tell or deposit (information) knowledge;
Give a secret to the Russians
Leave your name and address here
Leave
Leave behind unintentionally;
I forgot my umbrella in the restaurant
I left my keys inside the car and locked the doors
Leave
To depart from a person or place, possibly causing sadness.
It’s hard to leave loved ones behind.
FAQs
Does “Leave” always mean to go away?
No, “leave” can also mean permission to be absent or to let something remain where it is.
Can “Leaf” mean a flat section of a door or table?
Yes, “leaf” can refer to a hinged or detachable flat section of an object.
Is “Leaf” always green?
While typically green, leaves can be of various colors, especially in autumn.
Does every plant have a “Leaf”?
Most plants have leaves, but some, like cacti, have adapted differently.
Can “Leave” also be a noun?
Yes, “leave” can be a noun meaning permission to be absent.
Can “Leaf” also refer to a page in a book?
Yes, “leaf” can refer to a single sheet or page in a book or calendar.
Does “Leaf” play a role in photosynthesis?
Yes, the leaf is the primary site for photosynthesis in plants.
Can “Leaf” refer to something layered?
Yes, “leaf” can denote a component of something layered, like in food.
Can “Leave” imply causing sadness to someone?
Yes, leaving can sometimes imply causing sadness due to departure.
Does “Leave” have different tenses?
Yes, “leave” can be modified into different tenses like “left” or “leaving.”
Can “Leave” mean to let something remain?
Absolutely, “leave” can also mean to allow something to remain in its place.
Is “Leaf” used in idiomatic expressions?
Yes, for example, “turn over a new leaf” means to make a fresh start.
Can the word “Leaf” be plural?
Yes, the plural form of “leaf” is “leaves.”
Can “Leave” be used as a command?
Yes, “leave” can be used to instruct someone to depart, as in “leave now.”
Can “Leave” mean to quit a job?
Yes, “leave” can also mean to quit or resign from a job or position.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
