I. ˈlēk verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English leken, from Old Norse leka to drip, leak; akin to Old English leccan to moisten, Old High German z elechen cracked by heat, leaky, Old Irish legaim I melt, dissolve, Armenian lič swamp
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to enter or escape through a hole, crevice, or other opening usually by a fault or mistake
the possibility of oil or exhaust fumes leaking in — H.G.Armstrong
if the granary be not tight, the grain will leak out — C.H.Grandgent
b. : to let a substance (as water or gas) or light in or out through a hole, crevice, or other opening
a camera bellows may leak
the boat leaks
the gas tank leaks
2. : urinate
3. : to become known despite efforts at concealment : become public information : get out
it's top secret, not a word can leak for forty-eight hours — Louis Vaczek
how it had been done would leak across in time — Frank Ritchie
— often used with out
news of the discoveries leaked out — American Guide Series: Nevada
transitive verb
1.
a. : to permit to enter or escape through a leak
camera bellows which … leak light — Eastman Kodak Monthly Abstract Bulletin
hot in the train, the windows leaked cinders — Lionel Trilling
the little granary leaked wheat — C.T.Jackson
b. : to cause to be issued as if by a leak : give off
exquisite mosaics leaked the sour stench — L.C.Douglas
July night leaked heat — J.T.Farrell
phonographs leaked … symphonies and string quartets — Winthrop Sargeant
2. : to give out or pass on (as secret information) surreptitiously
leaked information which resulted in some people making quick profits — Springfield (Massachusetts) Union
leak important news to friendly newspapers
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English leke, probably from Old Norse leki; akin to Old Norse leka to leak
1.
a. : a crack, crevice, fissure, or hole that usually by mistake admits or lets escape (as water or light)
the ship sprang a leak
a camera bellows may have a light leak
b. : something that permits the admission or escape of something else usually with prejudicial effect
even the tightest precautions have some leaks — Time
errors in change and pilfering are common leaks in the grocery business
c. : a loss of electricity or of electric current sometimes due to faulty insulation ; also : the point or the path at which such loss occurs
2. : the act, process, or an instance of leaking
in the sun the outward leak of energy is carried by radiation — Fred Hoyle
through the process of premeditated leaks, the press may tell all — New Republic
3. : a soft watery rot of fruits or vegetables caused by various fungi (as Rhizopus stolonifer or Pythium debaryanum )
4. : an act of urinating — usually used with take
stopped to take a leak — Saul Bellow
— not often in polite use
III. adjective
Etymology: probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse lekr leaky; akin to Old Norse leka to leak
obsolete : leaky