v. & n.
—v. (letting; past and past part. let)
1 tr. a allow to, not prevent or forbid (we let them go). b cause to (let me know; let it be known).
2 tr. (foll. by into) a allow to enter. b make acquainted with (a secret etc.). c inlay in.
3 tr. Brit. grant the use of (rooms, land, etc.) for rent or hire (was let to the new tenant for a year).
4 tr. allow or cause (liquid or air) to escape (let blood).
5 tr. award (a contract for work).
6 aux. supplying the first and third persons of the imperative in exhortations (let us pray), commands (let it be done at once; let there be light), assumptions (let AB be equal to CD), and permission or challenge (let him do his worst).
—n. Brit. the act or an instance of letting a house, room, etc. (a long let).
Phrases and idioms:
let alone
1 not to mention, far less or more (hasn't got a television, let alone a video).
2 = let be. let be not interfere with, attend to, or do.
let down
1 lower.
2 fail to support or satisfy, disappoint.
3 lengthen (a garment).
4 deflate (a tyre). let-down n. a disappointment. let down gently avoid humiliating abruptly.
let drop (or fall)
1 drop (esp. a word or hint) intentionally or by accident.
2 (foll. by on, upon, to) Geom. draw (a perpendicular) from an outside point to a line.
let fly
1 (often foll. by at) attack physically or verbally.
2 discharge (a missile).
let go
1 release, set at liberty.
2 a (often foll. by of) lose or relinquish one's hold. b lose hold of.
3 cease to think or talk about.
let oneself go
1 give way to enthusiasm, impulse, etc.
2 cease to take trouble, neglect one's appearance or habits.
let in
1 allow to enter (let the dog in; let in a flood of light; this would let in all sorts of evils).
2 (usu. foll. by for) involve (a person, often oneself) in loss or difficulty.
3 (foll. by on) allow (a person) to share privileges, information, etc.
4 inlay (a thing) in another. let oneself in enter a building by means of a latchkey. let loose release or unchain (a dog, fury, a maniac, etc.). let me see see SEE(1).
let off
1 a fire (a gun). b explode (a bomb or firework).
2 allow or cause (steam, liquid, etc.) to escape.
3 allow to alight from a vehicle etc.
4 a not punish or compel. b (foll. by with) punish lightly.
5 Brit. let (part of a house etc.). let-off n. being allowed to escape something. let off steam see STEAM.
let on colloq.
1 reveal a secret.
2 pretend (let on that he had succeeded). let out 1 allow to go out, esp. through a doorway.
2 release from restraint.
3 (often foll. by that + clause) reveal (a secret etc.).
4 make (a garment) looser esp. by adjustment at a seam.
5 put out to rent esp. to several tenants, or to contract.
6 exculpate. let-out n. colloq. an opportunity to escape. let rip see RIP(1). let slip see SLIP(1). let through allow to pass.
let up colloq.
1 become less intense or severe.
2 relax one's efforts. let-up n.
colloq.
1 a reduction in intensity.
2 a relaxation of effort. to let available for rent.
Etymology: OE laeligtan f. Gmc, rel. to LATE
2.
n. & v.
—n.
1 (in lawn tennis, squash, etc.) an obstruction of a ball or a player in certain ways, requiring the ball to be served again.
2 (archaic except in without let or hindrance) obstruction, hindrance.
—v.tr. (letting; past and past part. letted or let) archaic hinder, obstruct.
Etymology: OE lettan f. Gmc, rel. to LATE
Useful english dictionary. 2012.