Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense leaks, present participle leaking, past tense, past participle leaked
1. verb
If a container leaks, there is a hole or crack in it which lets a substance such as liquid or gas escape. You can also say that a container leaks a substance such as liquid or gas.
The roof leaked. [VERB]
The gas had apparently leaked from a cylinder. [VERB preposition/adverb]
The pool's fiberglass sides had cracked and the water had leaked out. [VERB preposition/adverb]
A large diesel tank mysteriously leaked its contents into the river. [VERB noun + into]
[Also VERB noun]
Synonyms: escape, pass, spill, release More Synonyms of leak
Leak is also a noun.
It's thought a gas leak may have caused the blast.
2. countable noun
A leak is a crack, hole, or other gap that a substance such as a liquid or gas can pass through.
...a leak in the radiator. [+ in]
In May engineers found a leak in a hydrogen fuel line. [+ in]
Synonyms: hole, opening, crack, puncture More Synonyms of leak
3. verb
If a secret document or piece of information leaks or is leaked, someone lets the public know about it.
Last year, a civil servant was imprisoned for leaking a document to the press. [VERB noun + to]
He revealed who leaked a confidential police report. [VERB noun]
We don't know how the transcript leaked. [VERB]
...a leaked report. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: disclose, tell, reveal, pass on More Synonyms of leak
Leak is also a noun.
Leaks involving national security will be investigated by the police.
Leak out means the same as leak.
More details are now beginning to leak out. [VERBPARTICLE]
He said it would leak out to the newspapers and cause a scandal. [VERBPARTICLE + to]
More Synonyms of leak
leak in British English
(liːk)
noun
1.
a.
a crack, hole, etc, that allows the accidental escape or entrance of fluid, light, etc
b.
such escaping or entering fluid, light, etc
2. spring a leak
3.
something resembling this in effect
a leak in the defence system
4.
the loss of current from an electrical conductor because of faulty insulation, etc
5.
a disclosure, often intentional, of secret information
6.
the act or an instance of leaking
7.
a slang word for urination
urination
verb
8.
to enter or escape or allow to enter or escape through a crack, hole, etc
9. (whenintr, often foll by out)
to disclose (secret information), often intentionally, or (of secret information) to be disclosed
10. (intransitive) a slang word for urinate
Derived forms
leaker (ˈleaker)
noun
Word origin
C15: from Scandinavian; compare Old Norse leka to drip
leak in American English
(lik)
verb intransitive
1.
to let a fluid substance out or in accidentally
the boats leaks
2.
to enter, or escape accidentally from, an object or container
often with in or out
3.
to become known little by little, by accident, carelessness, or treachery
the truth leaked out
verb transitive
4.
to permit (water, air, light, radiation, etc.) to pass accidentally in or out; allow to leak
5.
to allow (secret or confidential information) to become known
noun
6.
an accidental hole or crack that lets something out or in
7.
any means of escape for something that ought not to be let out, lost, etc.
8.
the fact of leaking; leakage
9.
a disclosure of secret or confidential information; specif., an ostensibly accidental disclosure by a government official to the news media, actually intended to produce an effect
: in full news leak
10.
a.
a loss of electrical current through faulty insulation
b.
the point or path where this occurs
11. Slang
the act of urinating
usually in the phrase take a leak
Word origin
ME leken < ON leka, to drip < IE base *leg-, to drip, trickle, lack, OIr legaim, (I) dissolve, Welsh llaith, damp
Examples of 'leak' in a sentence
leak
They only need to head for the bin once they are turning green or leaking brown liquid.
The Sun (2017)
Details of the leak were reported yesterday.
The Sun (2016)
These are supposed to be kept secret but often leak.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But Stoke have picked up just one point and leaked ten goals in four games.
The Sun (2016)
His boiler had been leaking the deadly gas, which had been seeping through our floor.
The Sun (2016)
Her first solo album in 11 years leaked online last year.
The Sun (2017)
There certainly looks little hope for a ramshackle back four which has leaked 12 goals in six games.
The Sun (2016)
The US government assesses that information was leaked to the press and publicly disclosed.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
A leaked document highlights how taxpayers' cash could be misused by terror groups or criminal gangs.
The Sun (2016)
The German ship had sustained a fuel leak during the battle and was heading for the relative safety of the French coast.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Each tells me that most of their frequent leaks of secret information comes from regular civil servants.
The Times Literary Supplement (2008)
Then why did the police leak the incident.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
But they will have to stop leaking goals to mount a promotion push.
The Sun (2006)
Their identity should have remained secret but it leaked.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The crack is leaking the sweet smell of rotting flesh.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Or a gas leak that can put you to sleep without you feeling a thing?
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Runs were also leaked through mistimed diving.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
This weekend a second report was leaked.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The bug was reported a day before the stolen images were leaked online but was quickly fixed.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The leaking fuel was then ignited by the nearby engines.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Do you think the motivation for leaking these documents is political?
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The police deny leaking details of the raids.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
He was on call and there had been a major gas leak somewhere.
The Sun (2007)
It also had leaked photos of the new device.
The Sun (2012)
It is unclear how the video was leaked online.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
That file is understood to have been primarily focused on the question of who leaked information about the incident.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It is hard for the woman to know about because there may be a leak of fluid ratherthan a flood.
The Sun (2013)
Because of the high pressures required to expand gases there were often leaks from the joints of the crudely made machines.
Gavin Weightman THE FROZEN WATER TRADE (2002)
The defence that he could not use a chauffeur because the driver might leak details of secret transfer deals is laughable.
The Sun (2012)
The note was leaked in May when it was simply a piece of background advice.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
His team had leaked 14 goals in his five previous games at the helm.
The Sun (2009)
A lot of salty, sticky liquid will have leaked out - this is quite normal.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The issue proved the stumbling block in the talks, which began at the end of May and were leaked at the end of last month.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In other languages
leak
British English: leak /liːk/ NOUN
A leak is a crack, hole, or other gap that a substance such as a liquid or gas can pass through.
...a leak in the radiator.
American English: leak
Arabic: تَسَرُّب
Brazilian Portuguese: rombo
Chinese: 漏洞
Croatian: curenje
Czech: trhlina
Danish: lækage
Dutch: lek
European Spanish: escape
Finnish: vuoto
French: fuite liquide
German: Leck
Greek: διαρροή
Italian: perdita
Japanese: 漏れ口
Korean: 새는 곳
Norwegian: lekkasje
Polish: przeciek
European Portuguese: fuga
Romanian: spărtură
Russian: утечка
Latin American Spanish: escape filtración
Swedish: läcka
Thai: การรั่ว
Turkish: sızıntı
Ukrainian: витік
Vietnamese: lỗ thủng
British English: leak /liːk/ VERB
If a container leaks, there is a hole or crack in it which lets a substance such as liquid or gas escape. You can also say that a container leaks a substance such as liquid or gas.
The roof leaked.
American English: leak
Arabic: يَتَسَرَّبُ
Brazilian Portuguese: gotejar deixar escapar
Chinese: 漏
Croatian: curiti
Czech: unikat voda, plyn
Danish: lække
Dutch: lekken
European Spanish: tener un escape
Finnish: vuotaa
French: fuir liquide
German: lecken Dichte
Greek: διαρρέω
Italian: perdere
Japanese: 漏れる
Korean: 새다
Norwegian: lekke
Polish: przeciec
European Portuguese: vazar
Romanian: a avea scurgeri
Russian: давать течь
Latin American Spanish: tener un escape
Swedish: läcka
Thai: รั่ว
Turkish: sızdırmak
Ukrainian: пропускати рідину
Vietnamese: rò rỉ
Chinese translation of 'leak'
leak
(liːk)
n(c)
[of liquid, gas]裂隙 (lièxì) (条(條), tiáo)
(= hole) (in roof, pipe etc) 漏洞 (lòudòng) (个(個), gè)
[of document, information]泄(洩)露 (xièlòu)
vi
[shoes, pipe, liquid, gas]漏 (lòu)
vt
[liquid, gas]漏 (lòu)
[document, information]泄(洩)露 (xièlòu)
1 (verb)
Definition
to enter or escape, or allow to enter or escape, through a crack or hole
The pool's sides had cracked and the water had leaked out.
Synonyms
escape
Leave a vent open to let some of the moist air escape.
pass
The first symptom is extreme pain when passing urine.
spill
release
a weapon that releases toxic nerve gas
discharge
The resulting salty water will be discharged at sea.
drip
a cloth that dripped pink drops upon the floor
trickle
A tear trickled down his cheek.
ooze
Blood was still oozing from the wound.
seep
Radioactive water had seeped into underground reservoirs.
exude
the fluid that exudes from the cane toad's back
percolate
Water cannot percolate through the clay.
2 (verb)
Definition
to make (secret information) public, esp. deliberately
He revealed who had leaked a confidential police report.
Synonyms
disclose
Neither side would disclose details of the transaction.
tell
The facts tell a very different story.
reveal
She has refused to reveal her daughter's whereabouts.
pass on
give away
make public
divulge
He was charged with divulging state secrets.
let slip
make known
spill the beans (informal)
He was ready to spill the beans about the whole affair.
blab (informal)
She'll blab it all over the school.
let the cat out of the bag
blow wide open (slang)
1 (noun)
Definition
the act or an instance of leaking
It's thought a gas leak may have caused the blast.
Synonyms
leakage
leaking
discharge
They develop a fever and a watery discharge from the eyes.
drip
oozing
seepage
The industry's chemical seepage has caused untold damage.
percolation
2 (noun)
Definition
a crack or hole that allows the accidental escape or entrance of liquid, gas, radiation, etc.
a leak in the radiator
Synonyms
hole
They got in through a hole in the wall.
kids with holes in the knees of their jeans
opening
He squeezed through an opening in the fence.
crack
She watched him though a crack in the curtains.
puncture
an instrument used to make a puncture in the abdominal wall
aperture
Through the aperture he could see daylight.
chink
He peered through a chink in the curtains.
crevice
a huge boulder with rare ferns growing in every crevice
fissure
There was a great crack, and a fissure opened up.
perforation
3 (noun)
Definition
a disclosure of secret information
Serious leaks involving national security are likely to be investigated.
Synonyms
disclosure
unauthorised newspaper disclosures
exposé
The movie is an exposé of prison conditions in the South.
exposure
the exposure of Anthony Blunt as a former Soviet spy
admission
She wanted an admission of guilt from her father.
revelation
revelations about his private life
uncovering
betrayal
She saw his newspaper piece as a betrayal of her confidence.
unearthing
divulgence
Additional synonyms
in the sense of admission
Definition
a confession
She wanted an admission of guilt from her father.
Synonyms
confession,
admitting,
profession,
declaration,
revelation,
concession,
allowance,
disclosure,
acknowledgement,
affirmation,
unburdening,
avowal,
divulgence,
unbosoming
in the sense of aperture
Definition
a hole or opening
Through the aperture he could see daylight.
Synonyms
opening,
space,
hole,
crack,
gap,
rent,
passage,
breach,
slot,
vent,
rift,
slit,
cleft,
eye,
chink,
fissure,
orifice,
perforation,
eyelet,
interstice
in the sense of betrayal
She saw his newspaper piece as a betrayal of her confidence.
Synonyms
giving away,
telling,
revelation,
disclosure,
blurting out,
divulgence
Synonyms of 'leak'
leak
Explore 'leak' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of blab
Definition
to divulge (secrets) indiscreetly
She'll blab it all over the school.
Synonyms
tell,
reveal,
disclose,
divulge,
blurt out,
give away,
let slip,
blow wide open (slang)
in the sense of chink
Definition
a small narrow opening
He peered through a chink in the curtains.
Synonyms
opening,
crack,
gap,
rift,
aperture,
cleft,
crevice,
fissure,
cranny
in the sense of crack
Definition
a narrow opening or fissure
She watched him though a crack in the curtains.
Synonyms
break,
chink,
gap,
breach,
fracture,
rift,
cleft,
crevice,
fissure,
cranny,
interstice
in the sense of crevice
Definition
a narrow crack or gap in rock
a huge boulder with rare ferns growing in every crevice
Synonyms
gap,
opening,
hole,
split,
crack,
rent,
fracture,
rift,
slit,
cleft,
chink,
fissure,
cranny,
interstice
in the sense of discharge
Definition
to cause to pour forth
The resulting salty water will be discharged at sea.
Synonyms
pour forth,
release,
empty,
leak,
emit,
dispense,
void,
gush,
ooze,
exude,
give off,
excrete,
disembogue
in the sense of discharge
Definition
a pouring out of a fluid
They develop a fever and a watery discharge from the eyes.
Synonyms
emission,
flow,
ooze,
secretion,
excretion,
pus,
seepage,
suppuration
in the sense of divulge
Definition
to make known
He was charged with divulging state secrets.
Synonyms
make known,
tell,
reveal,
publish,
declare,
expose,
leak,
confess,
exhibit,
communicate,
spill (informal),
disclose,
proclaim,
betray,
uncover,
impart,
promulgate,
let slip,
blow wide open (slang),
get off your chest (informal),
cough (slang),
out (informal),
spill your guts about (slang)
in the sense of drip
Definition
to fall or let fall in drops
a cloth that dripped pink drops upon the floor
Synonyms
drop,
splash,
sprinkle,
trickle,
dribble,
exude,
drizzle,
plop
in the sense of exposure
Definition
the revealing of the truth about someone or something, esp. when it is shocking or scandalous
the exposure of Anthony Blunt as a former Soviet spy
Synonyms
revelation,
exposé,
uncovering,
disclosure,
airing,
manifestation,
detection,
divulging,
denunciation,
unmasking,
divulgence
in the sense of exposé
The movie is an exposé of prison conditions in the South.
Synonyms
exposure,
revelation,
uncovering,
disclosure,
divulgence
Additional synonyms
in the sense of exude
Definition
(of a liquid or smell) to seep or flow out slowly and steadily
the fluid that exudes from the cane toad's back
Synonyms
seep,
leak,
sweat,
bleed,
weep,
trickle,
ooze,
emanate,
issue,
filter through,
well forth
in the sense of fissure
Definition
any long narrow cleft or crack, esp. in a rock
There was a great crack, and a fissure opened up.
Synonyms
crack,
opening,
hole,
split,
gap,
rent,
fault,
breach,
break,
fracture,
rift,
slit,
rupture,
cleavage,
cleft,
chink,
crevice,
cranny,
interstice
in the sense of ooze
Definition
to flow or leak out slowly
Blood was still oozing from the wound.
Synonyms
seep,
well,
drop,
escape,
strain,
leak,
drain,
sweat,
filter,
bleed,
weep,
drip,
trickle,
leach,
dribble,
percolate
in the sense of opening
Definition
a hole or gap
He squeezed through an opening in the fence.
Synonyms
hole,
break,
space,
tear,
split,
crack,
gap,
rent,
breach,
slot,
outlet,
vent,
puncture,
rupture,
aperture,
cleft,
chink,
fissure,
orifice,
perforation,
interstice
in the sense of pass
Definition
to discharge (urine etc.) from the body
The first symptom is extreme pain when passing urine.
Synonyms
discharge,
release,
expel,
evacuate,
emit,
let out,
eliminate (rare)
in the sense of percolate
Definition
to pass or filter through very small holes
Water cannot percolate through the clay.
Synonyms
seep,
strain,
drain,
filter,
penetrate,
drip,
leach,
ooze,
pervade,
permeate,
filtrate
in the sense of puncture
Definition
a small hole made by a sharp object
an instrument used to make a puncture in the abdominal wall
Synonyms
hole,
opening,
break,
cut,
nick,
leak,
slit,
rupture,
perforation
in the sense of release
Definition
to give out heat, energy, radiation, etc.
a weapon that releases toxic nerve gas
Synonyms
give off,
discharge,
send out,
throw out,
radiate,
diffuse,
emanate,
exude,
cast out,
send forth
in the sense of reveal
Definition
to disclose or divulge (a secret)
She has refused to reveal her daughter's whereabouts.
Synonyms
make known,
disclose,
give away,
make public,
tell,
announce,
publish,
broadcast,
leak,
communicate,
proclaim,
betray,
give out,
let out,
impart,
divulge,
let slip,
let on,
take the wraps off (informal),
blow wide open (slang),
get off your chest (informal)
in the sense of revelation
Definition
the act of making known a truth which was previously secret
revelations about his private life
Synonyms
disclosure,
discovery,
news,
broadcast,
exposé,
announcement,
publication,
exposure,
leak,
uncovering,
confession,
divulgence
Additional synonyms
in the sense of seep
Definition
to leak through slowly
Radioactive water had seeped into underground reservoirs.
Synonyms
ooze,
well,
leak,
soak,
bleed,
weep,
trickle,
leach,
exude,
permeate,
percolate
in the sense of seepage
The industry's chemical seepage has caused untold damage.
Synonyms
leakage,
leak,
oozing,
percolation,
exudation
in the sense of spill the beans
Definition
to give away a secret
He was ready to spill the beans about the whole affair.
Synonyms
blab,
inform,
squeal (slang),
tell all,
shop (slang, British),
sing (slang, US),
split (slang),
grass (British, slang),
give the game away,
tattle,
let the cat out of the bag,
blow the gaff (British, slang),
talk out of turn,
spill your guts (slang),
betray a secret
in the sense of tell
The facts tell a very different story.
Synonyms
reveal,
show,
indicate,
disclose,
signify,
be evidence of
in the sense of trickle
Definition
to flow or cause to flow in a thin stream or drops