leak

[ leek ]

/ lik /

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See synonyms for: leak / leaking on Thesaurus.com

noun

an unintended hole, crack, or the like, through which liquid, gas, light, etc., enters or escapes: a leak in the roof.

an act or instance of leaking.

any means of unintended entrance or escape.

Electricity. the loss of current from a conductor, usually resulting from poor insulation.

a disclosure of secret, especially official, information, as to the news media, by an unnamed source.

verb (used without object)

to let a liquid, gas, light, etc., enter or escape, as through an unintended hole or crack: The boat leaks.

to pass in or out in this manner, as liquid, gas, or light: gas leaking from a pipe.

to become known unintentionally (usually followed by out): The news leaked out.

to disclose secret, especially official, information anonymously, as to the news media: The official revealed that he had leaked to the press in the hope of saving his own reputation.

verb (used with object)

to let (liquid, gas, light, etc.) enter or escape: This camera leaks light.

to allow to become known, as information given out covertly: to leak the news of the ambassador's visit.

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON “THEIR,” “THERE,” AND “THEY’RE”

Are you aware how often people swap around “their,” “there,” and “they’re”? Prove you have more than a fair grasp over these commonly confused words.

Question 1 of 7

Which one of these commonly confused words can act as an adverb or a pronoun?

their

there

they're

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms for leak

take a leak, Slang: Vulgar. to urinate.

Origin of leak

1375–1425; 1955–60 for def. 11; late Middle English leken<Old Norse leka to drip, leak; akin to Dutch lek,obsolete German lech leaky. See leach¹

OTHER WORDS FROM leak

leaker, nounleakless, adjectivenon·leak·ing, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH leak

leak , leek

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for leak

Problems with the lights or a leak can be solved with a call to engineering.
At Moon Rabbit, chef Kevin Tien lures fans to the Wharf|Tom Sietsema|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
Earlier this month, astronauts finally fixed an air leak that had been going on for more than a year—and this is just one of a litany of maintenance problems the station has faced recently.
The International Space Station Is Ailing. Its Replacement Will Shape the Future of Space Exploration|Edd Gent|November 9, 2020|Singularity Hub
According to leaks from testers, the price is $99 a month, plus a $499 on-boarding fee, presumably covering the cost of the satellite antennae users will need.
What $99 internet from space means for Americans|Tim Fernholz|October 29, 2020|Quartz
We almost had a leak in our beam tube because of something called microbial induced corrosion, which is biology, for Pete’s sake.
Why you don’t really know what you know|Katie McLean|October 21, 2020|MIT Technology Review

Mission Control would then have a go at pressurizing each sealed module to determine where the leak was.
Podcast: How democracies can reclaim digital power|Anthony Green|October 15, 2020|MIT Technology Review
The NFL and the rest of us were suddenly outraged, just as the leaker must have hoped.
Ray Rice Should Have Remembered His 'Kindness' Anti-Bullying Wristband|Michael Daly|September 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But, of course, it only took one leaker for these photos to be shared around the world.
'The Fappening' and Revenge Porn Culture: Jennifer Lawrence and the Creepshot Epidemic|Amanda Marcotte|September 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Within hours, the leaker decided to write an op-ed to clarify his position.
Snowden’s Camp: Staged Putin Q&A Was a Screw-Up|Noah Shachtman|April 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On the one hand, one might say that because the leak was unlawful the leaker should not be protected.
Democracy Demands a Journalist-Source Shield Law|Geoffrey R. Stone|April 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Many foreign governments are still angry about the disclosures of NSA spying by leaker Edward Snowden.
Secret State Department Letter Warned: Don’t Release CIA Torture Report|Josh Rogin|April 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If you buy a boat be sure the hull is in good condition, and that the boat is not a heavy and consistent leaker.
On Yacht Sailing|Thomas Fleming Day
It was an extra leaker with a see spoon, it was an extra licker with a see spoon.
Tender Buttons|Gertrude Stein

British Dictionary definitions for leak

leak

/ (liːk) /

noun

a crack, hole, etc, that allows the accidental escape or entrance of fluid, light, etc
such escaping or entering fluid, light, etc

spring a leak to develop a leak

something resembling this in effecta leak in the defence system

the loss of current from an electrical conductor because of faulty insulation, etc

a disclosure, often intentional, of secret information

the act or an instance of leaking

a slang word for urinationSee urination

verb

to enter or escape or allow to enter or escape through a crack, hole, etc

(when intr, often foll by out) to disclose (secret information), often intentionally, or (of secret information) to be disclosed

(intr) a slang word for urinate

Derived forms of leak

leaker, noun

Word Origin for leak

C15: from Scandinavian; compare Old Norse leka to drip

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

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