leaf
one of the expanded, usually green organs borne by the stem of a plant.
any similar or corresponding lateral outgrowth of a stem.
a petal: a rose leaf.
leaves collectively; foliage.
Bibliography. a unit generally comprising two printed, blank, or illustrated pages of a book, one on each side.
a thin sheet of metal: silver leaf.
a lamina or layer.
a sliding, hinged, or detachable flat part, as of a door or tabletop.
a section of a drawbridge.
a single strip of metal in a leaf spring.
a tooth of a small gear wheel, as of a pinion.
Textiles. shaft (def. 14).
to put forth leaves.
to turn pages, especially quickly (usually followed by through): to leaf through a book.
to thumb or turn, as the pages of a book or magazine, in a casual or cursory inspection of the contents.
Idioms about leaf
in leaf, covered with foliage; having leaves: the pale green tint of the woods newly in leaf.
take a leaf out of / from someone's book, to follow someone's example; imitate: Some countries that took a leaf out of American industry's book are now doing very well for themselves.
turn over a new leaf, to begin anew; make a fresh start: Every New Year's we make resolutions to turn over a new leaf.
Origin of leaf
1Other words from leaf
- leafless, adjective
- leaflike, adjective
- un·leaf, verb (used with object)
- un·leaf·like, adjective
Words Nearby leaf
Other definitions for Leaf (2 of 2)
Mun·ro [muhn-roh], /mʌnˈroʊ/, 1905–76, U.S. author and illustrator of books for children.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use leaf in a sentence
Thankfully, the chore of keeping your property looking great is made easier with a leaf blower.
Leaf blowers that help you fight fallen foliage | PopSci Commerce Team | September 25, 2020 | Popular-ScienceThe leaf has been around for nearly a decade, but many reviewers still think the base model cuts a few too many corners to hit a lower price point.
5 cheap electric cars to buy until Tesla delivers on its $25,000 promise | dzanemorris | September 23, 2020 | FortuneWith most recreational pleasures put on pause for men in these communities, women who aren’t sellers are hopeful that their husbands will turn over a new leaf, say activists.
To test a link between leaf biting and pollen shortages, the researchers did a caged-bee test.
Bumblebees may bite leaves to spur plant blooming | Susan Milius | July 2, 2020 | Science News For StudentsThe notion that bee damage to a leaf could jump-start flowering originally struck Mark Mescher as a long shot.
Bumblebees may bite leaves to spur plant blooming | Susan Milius | July 2, 2020 | Science News For Students
A lot of us Republicans are having trouble getting the leaf blower started.
Where does this “Arab Tea leaf” come from, according to the talking heads?
Chinese Getting Hooked on the Middle East's Favorite Drug | Brendon Hong | October 20, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTGrown in the jungle by the indigenous Kichwa, guayusa (gwhy-you-sa) is a sacred leaf used in ceremonial rituals.
Bye Bye Latté, Hello Guayusa: Why The Amazon Holds the Secret to a Cleaner, Healthier Caffeine | Brandon Presser | August 29, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTObviously, I buy in bulk and I buy from a specialty gold leaf wholesaler on the West Coast.
Or is Rand co-opting them by merely using his newfound adviser as a fig leaf?
Is Rand Paul a Secret Hawk? Or Maybe Not a Total Dove? | James Kirchick | May 9, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTNot a zephyr ruffled the leaf of a rose, and a soft breathing fragrance bathed his reposing senses.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4 | Jane PorterHitherto, I have not given the subject much consideration, but I turn over a new leaf from the date of this adventure.
Glances at Europe | Horace GreeleyVirginia leaf still continues to flourish, and to-day it is the great agricultural product of the State.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce | E. R. Billings.I suppose Grandfather Mole has taken my advice and turned over a new leaf.
The Tale of Grandfather Mole | Arthur Scott BaileyWhen rapidly deposited, as by artificial precipitation, triple phosphate often takes feathery, star- or leaf-like forms.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis | James Campbell Todd
British Dictionary definitions for leaf
/ (liːf) /
the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants, usually consisting of a flat green blade attached to the stem directly or by a stalk: Related adjectives: foliar, foliate
foliage collectively
in leaf (of shrubs, trees, etc) having a full complement of foliage leaves
one of the sheets of paper in a book
a hinged, sliding, or detachable part, such as an extension to a table
metal in the form of a very thin flexible sheet: gold leaf
a foil or thin strip of metal in a composite material; lamina
short for leaf spring
the inner or outer wall of a cavity wall
a crop that is harvested in the form of leaves
a metal strip forming one of the laminations in a leaf spring
a slang word for marijuana
take a leaf out of someone's book or take a leaf from someone's book to imitate someone, esp in one particular course of action
turn over a new leaf to begin a new and improved course of behaviour
(when intr, usually foll by through) to turn (through pages, sheets, etc) cursorily
(intr) (of plants) to produce leaves
Origin of leaf
1Derived forms of leaf
- leafless, adjective
- leaflessness, noun
- leaflike, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for leaf
[ lēf ]
An appendage growing from the stem of a plant. Leaves are extremely variable in form and function according to species. For example, the needles of pine trees, the spines of cacti, and the bright red parts of the poinsettia plant are all leaves modified for different purposes. However, most leaves are flat and green and adapted to capturing sunlight and carbon dioxide for photosynthesis. They consist of an outer tissue layer (the epidermis) through which water and gases are exchanged, a spongy inner layer of cells that contain chloroplasts, and veins that supply water and minerals and carry out food. Some leaves are simple, while others are compound, consisting of multiple leaflets. The flat part of the leaf, the blade, is often attached to the stem by a leafstalk.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Other Idioms and Phrases with leaf
In addition to the idiom beginning with leaf
- leaf through
also see:
- quake in one's boots (like a leaf)
- take a leaf out of someone's book
- turn over a new leaf
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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