— leaper , n.
/leep/ , v. , leaped or leapt, leaping , n.
v.i.
1. to spring through the air from one point or position to another; jump: to leap over a ditch.
2. to move or act quickly or suddenly: to leap aside; She leaped at the opportunity.
3. to pass, come, rise, etc., as if with a jump: to leap to a conclusion; an idea that immediately leaped to mind.
v.t.
4. to jump over: to leap a fence.
5. to pass over as if by a jump.
6. to cause to leap: to leap a horse.
n.
7. a spring, jump, or bound; a light, springing movement.
8. the distance covered in a leap; distance jumped.
9. a place leaped or to be leaped over or from.
10. a sudden or abrupt transition: a successful leap from piano class to concert hall.
11. a sudden and decisive increase: a leap in the company's profits.
12. by leaps and bounds , very rapidly: We are progressing by leaps and bounds.
13. leap in the dark , an action of which the consequences are unknown: The experiment was a leap in the dark.
14. leap of faith , an act or instance of accepting or trusting in something that cannot readily be seen or proved.
[ bef. 900; ME lepen, OE hleapan to leap, run; c. G laufen, ON hlaupa, Goth hlaupan ]
Syn. 1. bound. See jump .