leak

[ leek ]

/ lik /

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.

Words nearby leak

league of women voters, league table, leaguer, leah, leahy, leak, leakage, leakance, leakey, leakproof, leaky

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

leak·er, nounleak·less, 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. 2019

Examples from the Web for leaker

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

British Dictionary definitions for leaker

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

leak

noun

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

Content related to leak

Words nearby leak

Idioms for leak

Origin of leak

OTHER WORDS FROM leak

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH leak

Examples from the Web for leaker

British Dictionary definitions for leaker

noun

verb

Derived forms of leak

Word Origin for leak