— leaker , n. — leakless , adj.
/leek/ , n.
1. an unintended hole, crack, or the like, through which liquid, gas, light, etc., enters or escapes: a leak in the roof.
2. an act or instance of leaking.
3. any means of unintended entrance or escape.
4. Elect. the loss of current from a conductor, usually resulting from poor insulation.
5. a disclosure of secret, esp. official, information, as to the news media, by an unnamed source.
6. take a leak , Slang ( vulgar ). to urinate.
v.i.
7. to let a liquid, gas, light, etc., enter or escape, as through an unintended hole or crack: The boat leaks.
8. to pass in or out in this manner, as liquid, gas, or light: gas leaking from a pipe.
9. to become known unintentionally (usually fol. by out ): The news leaked out.
10. to disclose secret, esp. official, information anonymously, as to the news media: The official revealed that he had leaked to the press in the hope of saving his own reputation.
v.t.
11. to let (liquid, gas, light, etc.) enter or escape: This camera leaks light.
12. to allow to become known, as information given out covertly: to leak the news of the ambassador's visit.
[ 1375-1425; 1955-60 for def. 12; late ME leken leka to drip, leak; akin to D lek, obs. G lech leaky. See LEACH 1 ]