Synonyms Word Origin
See more synonyms for leap on Thesaurus.com verb (used without object), leaped or leapt, leap·ing. to spring through the air from one point or position to another; jump: to leap over a ditch. to move or act quickly or suddenly: to leap aside; She leaped at the opportunity. to pass, come, rise, etc., as if with a jump: to leap to a conclusion; an idea that immediately leaped to mind. Show More
verb (used with object), leaped or leapt, leap·ing. to jump over: to leap a fence. to pass over as if by a jump. to cause to leap: to leap a horse. Show More
a spring, jump, or bound; a light, springing movement. the distance covered in a leap; distance jumped. a place leaped or to be leaped over or from. a sudden or abrupt transition: a successful leap from piano class to concert hall. a sudden and decisive increase: a leap in the company's profits. Show More
by leaps and bounds , very rapidly: We are progressing by leaps and bounds. leap in the dark , an action of which the consequences are unknown: The experiment was a leap in the dark. leap of faith , an act or instance of accepting or trusting in something that cannot readily be seen or proved. Show More
Origin of leap before 900; Middle English lepen, Old English hlēapan to leap, run; cognate with German laufen, Old Norse hlaupa, Gothic hlaupan
Related forms leap·er , noun Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
British Dictionary definitions for leap in the dark verb leaps , leaping , leapt or leaped (intr) to jump suddenly from one place to another (intr often foll by at ) to move or react quickly (tr) to jump over to come into prominence rapidly the thought leapt into his mind (tr) to cause (an animal, esp a horse) to jump a barrier Show More
the act of jumping a spot from which a leap was or may be made the distance of a leap an abrupt change or increase Also called (US and Canadian): skip music a relatively large melodic interval, esp in a solo part a leap in the dark an action performed without knowledge of the consequences by leaps and bounds with unexpectedly rapid progress Show More
Derived Forms leaper , noun Word Origin for leap Old English hlēapan; related to Gothic hlaupan, German laufen
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for leap in the dark n. c.1200, from Old English hliep , hlyp (West Saxon), *hlep (Mercian, Northumbrian) "a leap, bound, spring, sudden movement; thing to leap from;" common Germanic (cf. Old Frisian hlep , Dutch loop , Old High German hlouf , German lauf ); from the root of leap (v.). Leaps has been paired with bounds since at least 1720.
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v. c.1200, from Old English hleapan "to jump, run, leap" (class VII strong verb; past tense hleop , past participle hleapen ), from Proto-Germanic *khlaupan (cf. Old Saxon hlopan , Old Norse hlaupa , Old Frisian hlapa , Dutch lopen , Old High German hlouffan , German laufen "to run," Gothic us-hlaupan "to jump up"), of uncertain origin, with no known cognates beyond Germanic. Leap-frog , the children's game, is attested by that name from 1590s; figurative use by 1704.
First loke and aftirward lepe [proverb recorded from mid-15c.] Related: Leaped ; leaping .
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with leap in the dark An act whose results cannot be predicted. For example, Given today's high divorce rate, he considered marriage a leap in the dark . [Late 1600s]
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In addition to the idioms beginning with leap
leap in the dark leap of faith also see:
by leaps and bounds look before you leap quantum leap Also see underjump.
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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
