leak

[ leek ]

noun

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. Electricity. the loss of current from a conductor, usually resulting from poor insulation.
5. a disclosure of secret, especially official, information, as to the news media, by an unnamed source.

verb (used without object)

1. to let a liquid, gas, light, etc., enter or escape, as through an unintended hole or crack:

   The boat leaks.

2. to pass in or out in this manner, as liquid, gas, or light:

   gas leaking from a pipe.

3. to become known unintentionally (usually followed by out ):

   The news leaked out.

4. to disclose secret, especially 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.

verb (used with object)

1. to let (liquid, gas, light, etc.) enter or escape:

   This camera leaks light.

2. to allow to become known, as information given out covertly:

   to leak the news of the ambassador's visit.

leak

/ liːk /

noun

1. 1. a crack, hole, etc, that allows the accidental escape or entrance of fluid, light, etc
   2. such escaping or entering fluid, light, etc
2. spring a leak
   to develop 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 See urination

verb

1. to enter or escape or allow to enter or escape through a crack, hole, etc
2. whenintr, often foll by out to disclose (secret information), often intentionally, or (of secret information) to be disclosed
3. intr a slang word for urinate

Derived Forms

• ˈleaker, noun

Other Words From

• leaker noun
• leakless adjective
• non·leaking adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of leak¹

1375–1425; 1955–60 leak fordef 11; late Middle English leken < Old Norse leka to drip, leak; akin to Dutch lek, obsolete German lech leaky. See leach ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of leak¹

C15: from Scandinavian; compare Old Norse leka to drip

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. take a leak, Slang: Vulgar. to urinate.

Example Sentences

Teixeira's leak prompted the Pentagon to examine its systems for handling classified information.

From BBC

But activists have put forward what could be other motives behind the explosive leak.

From BBC

In the wake of the audio leak scandal, the incumbent wrapped himself in latinidad like a tamale snug inside a corn husk — and he still lost.

From Los Angeles Times

If De León had resigned in the wake of the audio leak, or decided to not seek reelection, he could have left with egg on his face but nevertheless walking tall after an impressive career of service to Latinos.

From Los Angeles Times

De León never recovered from his role in the 2022 City Hall audio leak that captured him laughing as others mocked Oaxacans, trashed political opponents and schemed on how to check Black political power in L.A. to ensure the spread of Latino power.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• crack
• exposure
• flow
• leakage