/ˈhɒlədeɪ ||; ˈhɑləˌde/noun1 (US 美 vacation) [C,U] a period of rest from work or school (often when you go and stay away from home) 假期（常指离家的）: We're going to Italy for our summer holidaysthis year. 今年我们要去意大利过暑假。How much holiday do you get a year in your new job? 你的新工作每年给多少天假期？Mr Philips isn't here this week. He's away on holiday. 这个星期菲利普斯先生不在这里，他度假去了。I'm going to take a week's holidayin May and spend it at home. 我打算在五月休假一个礼拜，呆在家里不出门。the school/Christmas/Easter/summer holidays 学校假期；圣诞节假期；复活节假期；暑假
Leave is time when you do not go to work for a special reason sick leave maternity leave (= when you are having a baby) unpaid leave 因某种特殊理由而请的假叫做leave﹕sick leave病假?maternity leave产假?unpaid leave无薪假期 2 [C] a day of rest when people do not go to work, school, etc often for religious or national celebrations 假日（常因宗教或国家的庆祝活动）: Next Monday is a holiday. 下星期一是假日。New Year's Day is a bank/public holiday in Britain. 元旦是英国的银行╱公共假日。
Holiday in this sense is used in both British and American English. A day when you choose not go to work is also called a day off I'm having two days off next week when we move house. 就这个意义来说，holiday一词英美通用。休假一天也叫做a day off：I'm having two days off next week when we move house.下个礼拜我请了两天假搬家。