I. ˈlēf noun
( plural leaves ˈlēvz ; also leafs ˈlēfs)
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English leef, from Old English lēaf; akin to Old High German loub leaf
Date: before 12th century
1.
a.
(1) : a lateral outgrowth from a plant stem that is typically a flattened expanded variably shaped greenish organ, constitutes a unit of the foliage, and functions primarily in food manufacture by photosynthesis
(2) : a modified leaf (as a bract or sepal) primarily engaged in functions other than food manufacture
b.
(1) : foliage
trees in full leaf
(2) : the leaves of a plant as an article of commerce
2. : something suggestive of a leaf: as
a. : a part of a book or folded sheet containing a page on each side
b.
(1) : a part (as of window shutters, folding doors, or gates) that slides or is hinged
(2) : the movable parts of a table top
c.
(1) : a thin sheet or plate of any substance : lamina
(2) : metal (as gold or silver) in sheets usually thinner than foil
(3) : one of the plates of a leaf spring
• leaf·less ˈlēf-ləs adjective
• leaf·like ˈlēf-ˌlīk adjective
[
forms of leaf 1a(1): 1 needle-shaped, 2 linear, 3 lanceolate, 4 elliptical, 5 ensiform, 6 oblong, 7 oblanceolate with acuminate tip, 8 ovate with acute tip, 9 obovate, 10 spatulate, 11 fiddle-shaped, 12 cuneate, 13 deltoid, 14 cordate, 15 reniform, 16 orbiculate, 17 runcinate, 18 lyrate, 19 peltate, 20 hastate, 21 sagittate, 22 odd-pinnate, 23 abruptly pinnate, 24 trifoliolate, 25, 26 palmate
]
II. verb
Date: 1611
intransitive verb
1. : to shoot out or produce leaves
will leaf out in spring
2. : to turn over pages especially to browse or skim
leaf through a book
transitive verb
: to turn over the pages of