Word origins - 2ed. J. Ayto. 2005.
Leak — (l[=e]k), n. [Akin to D. lek leaky, a leak, G. leck, Icel. lekr leaky, Dan. l[ae]k leaky, a leak, Sw. l[ a]ck; cf. AS. hlec full of cracks or leaky. Cf. {Leak}, v.] 1. A crack, crevice, fissure, or hole which admits water or other fluid, or lets… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
LEAK — is the brand name for high fidelity audio equipment made by H. J. Leak Co. Ltd, of London, England. The company was founded in 1934 by Harold Joseph Leak and was sold to the Rank Organisation in January 1969. During the 1950s and 60s, the company … Wikipedia
leak — leak·age; leak·er; leak·i·ness; leak·less; leak·man; leak; … English syllables
leak|y — «LEE kee», adjective, leak|i|er, leak|i|est. having a leak or leaks; full of leaks; leaking: »The ship was leaky and very much disabled (Daniel Defoe). – … Useful english dictionary
Leak — Leak, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Leaked} (l[=e]kt); p. pr. & vb. n. {Leaking}.] [Akin to D. lekken, G. lecken, lechen, Icel. leka, Dan. l[ae]kke, Sw. l[ a]cka, AS. leccan to wet, moisten. See {Leak}, n.] 1. To let water or other fluid in or out through … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
leak — Ⅰ. leak UK US /liːk/ verb ► [I or T] if a liquid or gas leaks, or is allowed to leak, from a pipe or container, it escapes through an opening: »Textile chemicals leaking from a container started a fire in a cargo compartment. »The ship leaked an… … Financial and business terms
leak — ► VERB 1) accidentally allow contents to escape or enter through a hole or crack. 2) (of liquid, gas, etc.) escape or enter accidentally through a hole or crack. 3) intentionally disclose (secret information). 4) (of secret information) become… … English terms dictionary
leak — [lēk] vi. [ME leken < ON leka, to drip < IE base * leg , to drip, trickle, LACK, OIr legaim, (I) dissolve, Welsh llaith, damp] 1. to let a fluid substance out or in accidentally [the boats leaks] 2. to enter, or escape accidentally from, an … English World dictionary
Leak — Leak, a. Leaky. [Obs.] Spenser. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
leak — verb. The transitive meaning ‘to disclose (secret information) intentionally’ is, apart from an isolated example of 1859, a 20c use, although the practice is doubtless a lot older. It is related to, if not a development of, the phrasal verb to… … Modern English usage
leak — [n] opening; seepage through opening aperture, chink, crack, crevice, decrease, destruction, detriment, drip, drop, escape, expenditure, exposure, fissure, flow, hole, leakage, leaking, loss, outgoing, percolation, pit, puncture, short circuit,… … New thesaurus
