Leak
Leak (lēk) , noun
[Akin to Dutch lek leaky, a leak, German leck, Icelandic lekr leaky, Danish lak leaky, a leak, Swedish lack; compare Anglo-Saxon hlec full of cracks or leaky. Compare 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.
2.
The entrance or escape of a fluid through a crack, fissure, or other aperture; as, the leak gained on the ship's pumps.
3.
(Electricity) A loss of electricity through imperfect insulation; also, the point at which such loss occurs.
4.
an act of urinating; -- used mostly in the phrase take a leak, i. e. to urinate. [vulgar]
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.
Collocations (1)
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.
Leak , adjective
Leaky. [Obsolete] — Spenser
Leak (lēkt) , intransitive verb
[Akin to Dutch lekken, German lecken, lechen, Icelandic leka, Danish lakke, Swedish lacka, Anglo-Saxon 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.
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.
Collocations (1)
To leak out , to be divulged gradually or clandestinely; to become public; as, the facts leaked out.