leaf out

leaf out

Of a plant, to sprout and open leaves. Something must be wrong with the tree, because it's nearly May and it hasn't started leafing out yet. Your plant may not leaf out if there is too much direct sunlight on it throughout the day.See also: leaf, out

leaf out

[for a plant] to open its leaf buds. Most of the bushes leaf out in mid-April. The trees leafed out early this year.See also: leaf, out