/ liːp; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb ( leapt , leapt / lept; NAmE /) or ( leaped , leaped )
1.
to jump high or a long way :
[ v + adv. / prep. ]
A dolphin leapt out of the water.
We leapt over the stream.
[ vn ]
The horse leapt a five-foot wall.
2.
[ v + adv. / prep. ] to move or do sth suddenly and quickly :
She leapt out of bed.
He leapt across the room to answer the door.
I leapt to my feet (= stood up quickly) .
They leapt into action immediately.
( figurative )
She was quick to leap to my defence (= speak in support of me) .
The photo seemed to leap off the page (= it got your attention immediately) .
His name leapt out at me (= I saw it immediately) .
3.
[ v ] to increase suddenly and by a large amount
SYN shoot up :
Shares leapt in value from 476p to close at 536p.
•
IDIOMS
- look before you leap
—more at conclusion , heart
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- leap at sth
■ noun
1.
a long or high jump :
a leap of six metres
She took a flying leap and landed on the other side of the stream.
( figurative )
His heart gave a sudden leap when he saw her.
( figurative )
Few people successfully make the leap from television to the movies.
2.
leap (in sth) a sudden large change or increase in sth :
a leap in profits
—see also quantum leap
•
IDIOMS
- by / in leaps and bounds
- a leap in the dark
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English hlēapan (verb), hlӯp (noun), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch lopen , German laufen (verb), and Dutch loop , German Lauf (noun), all meaning run, also to lope .