GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 3 definitions

1.       
   Leak (lēk), n. [Akin to D. lek leaky, a leak, G. leck, Icel. lekr leaky, Dan. læk leaky, a leak, Sw. läck; 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 it escape; as, “a leak in a roof; a leak in a boat; a leak in a gas pipe.” “One leak will sink a ship.”  Bunyan.
   
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   2. The entrance or escape of a fluid through a crack, fissure, or other aperture; as, “the leak gained on the ship's pumps”.
   
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   3. (Elec.) A loss of electricity through imperfect insulation; also, the point at which such loss occurs.
   
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   4. an act of urinating; -- used mostly in the phrase take a leak, i. e. to urinate. [vulgar]
   
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   5. The disclosure of information that is expected to be kept confidential; as, “leaks by the White House staff infuriated Nixon; leaks by the Special Prosecutor were criticized as illegal”.
   
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   To spring a leak, to open or crack so as to let in water; to begin to let in water; as, “the ship sprung a leak”.
   
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2.       
   Leak, a. Leaky. [Obs.]  Spenser.
   
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3.       
   Leak, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Leaked (lēkt); p. pr. & vb. n. Leaking.] [Akin to D. lekken, G. lecken, lechen, Icel. leka, Dan. lække, Sw. läcka, AS. leccan to wet, moisten. See Leak, n.]
   1. To let water or other fluid in or out through a hole, crevice, etc.; as, “the cask leaks; the roof leaks; the boat leaks.”
   
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   2. To enter or escape, as a fluid, through a hole, crevice, etc.; to pass gradually into, or out of, something; -- usually with in or out.
   
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   To leak out, to be divulged gradually or clandestinely; to become public; as, “leaked out”.
   
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