let-out

[adj. let-out; n. let-out] /adj. ˈlɛtˈaʊt; n. ˈlɛtˌaʊt/

adjective

(of fur) processed by cutting parallel diagonal slashes into the pelt and sewing the slashed edges together to lengthen the pelt and to improve the appearance of the fur.

noun

Chiefly British. a means of escape; loophole.

Origin

1830-40; adj., noun use of verb phrase let out

let¹

[let] /lɛt/

verb (used with object), let, letting.

to allow or permit:

to let him escape.

to allow to pass, go, or come:

to let us through.

to grant the occupancy or use of (land, buildings, rooms, space, etc., or movable property) for rent or hire (sometimes followed by out).

to contract or assign for performance, usually under a contract:

to let work to a carpenter.

to cause to; make:

to let one know the truth.

(used in the imperative as an auxiliary expressive of a request, command, warning, suggestion, etc.):

Let me see. Let us go. Just let them try it!

verb (used without object), let, letting.

to admit of being rented or leased:

The apartment lets for $100 per week.

noun

British. a lease.

Verb phrases

let down,

to disappoint; fail.
to betray; desert.
to slacken; abate:
We were too near success to let down in our efforts.
to allow to descend slowly; lower.
Aeronautics. (of an airplane) to descend from a higher to a lower altitude preparatory to making an approach and landing or a similar maneuver.

10.

let in,

to admit.
to involve (a person) in without his or her knowledge or permission:
to let someone in for a loss.
Also, let into. to insert into the surface of (a wall or the like) as a permanent addition:
to let a plaque into a wall.
Also, let in on. to share a secret with; permit to participate in.

11.

let off,

to release by exploding.
to free from duty or responsibility; excuse.
to allow to go with little or no punishment; pardon:
The judge let off the youthful offender with a reprimand.

12.

let on,

to reveal one's true feelings:
She was terrified at the prospect, but didn't let on.
to pretend:
They let on that they didn't care about not being invited, but I could tell that they were hurt.

13.

let out,

to divulge; make known.
to release from confinement, restraint, etc.
to enlarge (a garment).
to terminate; be finished; end:
When does the university let out for the summer?
to make (a let-out fur or pelt).

14.

let up,

to slacken; diminish; abate:
This heat wave should let up by the end of the week.
to cease; stop:
The rain let up for a few hours.

15.

let up on, to treat less severely; be more lenient with:

He refused to let up on the boy until his grades improved.

Idioms

16.

let alone. alone (def 8).

17.

let be,

to refrain from interference.
to refrain from interfering with.

18.

let go. go (def 82).

19.

let someone have it, Informal. to attack or assault, as by striking, shooting, or rebuking:

The gunman threatened to let the teller have it if he didn't move fast.

Origin

before 900; Middle English leten, Old English lǣtan; cognate with Dutch laten, German lassen, Old Norse lāta, Gothic lētan; akin to Greek lēdeîn to be weary, Latin lassus tired. See late

Synonyms

1. See allow. 1. suffer, grant. 3. lease, rent, sublet, hire.

Antonyms

1. prevent.

Usage note

Let us is used in all varieties of speech and writing to introduce a suggestion or a request: Let us consider all the facts before deciding. The contracted form let's occurs mostly in informal speech and writing: Let's go. Let's not think about that right now. Perhaps because let's has come to be felt as a word in its own right rather than as the contraction of let us, it is often followed in informal speech and writing by redundant or appositional pronouns: Let's us plan a picnic. Let's you and I (or me) get together tomorrow. Both Let's you and me and Let's you and I occur in the relaxed speech of educated speakers. The former conforms to the traditional rules of grammar; the latter, nonetheless, occurs more frequently. See also leave¹.

British Dictionary definitions for let out

let out

verb (adverb, mainly transitive)

to give vent to; emit: to let out a howl

to allow to go or run free; release

(may take a clause as object) to reveal (a secret)

to make available to tenants, hirers, or contractors

to permit to flow out: to let air out of the tyres

to make (a garment) larger, as by unpicking (the seams) and sewing nearer the outer edge

noun

a chance to escape

let¹

/lɛt/

verb (transitive; usually takes an infinitive without to or an implied infinitive) lets, letting, let

to permit; allow: she lets him roam around

(imperative or dependent imperative)

used as an auxiliary to express a request, proposal, or command, or to convey a warning or threat: let's get on, just let me catch you here again!
(in mathematical or philosophical discourse) used as an auxiliary to express an assumption or hypothesis: let "a" equal "b"
used as an auxiliary to express resigned acceptance of the inevitable: let the worst happen

to allow the occupation of (accommodation) in return for rent
to assign (a contract for work)

to allow or cause the movement of (something) in a specified direction: to let air out of a tyre

(Irish, informal) to utter: to let a cry

let alone

(conjunction) much less; not to mention: I can't afford wine, let alone champagne
let be, leave alone, leave be, to refrain from annoying or interfering with: let the poor cat alone

let go, See go¹ (sense 59)

let loose

to set free
(informal) to make (a sound or remark) suddenly: he let loose a hollow laugh
(informal) to discharge (rounds) from a gun or guns: they let loose a couple of rounds of ammunition

noun

(Brit) the act of letting property or accommodation: the majority of new lets are covered by the rent regulations

Word Origin

Old English lǣtan to permit; related to Gothic lētan, German lassen

let²

/lɛt/

noun

an impediment or obstruction (esp in the phrase without let or hindrance)

(tennis, squash)

a minor infringement or obstruction of the ball, requiring a point to be replayed
the point so replayed

verb lets, letting, letted, let

(transitive) (archaic) to hinder; impede

Word Origin

Old English lettan to hinder, from lætlate; related to Old Norse letja

Word Origin and History for let out

let

Old English lætan "to allow to remain; let go, leave, depart from; leave undone; to allow; bequeath," also "to rent" (class VII strong verb; past tense let, past participle læten), from Proto-Germanic *letan (cf. Old Saxon latan, Old Frisian leta, Dutch laten, German lassen, Gothic letan "to leave, let"), from PIE *le- "to let go, slacken" (cf. Latin lassus "faint, weary," Lithuanian leisti "to let, to let loose;" see lenient). If that derivation is correct, the primary sense would be "let go through weariness, neglect."

Of blood, from late Old English. To let (something) slip originally (1520s) was a reference to hounds on a leash; figurative use from 1540s. To let (someone) off "allow to go unpunished" is from 1814. To let on "reveal, divulge" is from 1725; to let up "cease, stop" is from 1787. Let alone "not to mention" is from 1812.

"stoppage, obstruction" (obsolete unless in legal contracts), late 12c., from archaic verb letten "to hinder," from Old English lettan "hinder, delay," from Proto-Germanic *latjanan (cf. Old Saxon lettian "to hinder," Old Norse letja "to hold back," Old High German lezzen "to stop, check," Gothic latjan "to hinder, make late," Old English læt "sluggish, slow, late"); see late.

Slang definitions & phrases for let out

let out

verb phrase

To reveal: They let out that they were already married (1870+)

Related Abbreviations for let out

LET

linear energy transfer

Idioms and Phrases with let out

let out

Allow to get out ; also see get out of

Make known, reveal, as in I thought it was a secret—who let it out? [ First half of 1800s ]

Also see: let the cat out of the bag

Come to a close, end, as in What time does school let out? [ Late 1800s ]

Increase the size of a garment, as in May's coat needs to be let out across the shoulders. This usage refers to opening some of the seams. [ Late 1700s ]