leak

leak¹ S3 [li:k] v

[Date: 1400-1500; : Old Norse; Origin: leka]

1.) [I and T]

if a container, pipe, roof etc leaks, or if it leaks gas, liquid etc, there is a small hole or crack in it that lets gas or liquid flow through

▪ The roof is leaking in several places.

▪ A tanker is leaking oil off the coast of Scotland.

2.) [I always + adverb/preposition]

if a gas or liquid leaks somewhere, it gets through a hole in something

= ↑seep leak into/from/out

▪ Sea water was leaking into the batteries which powered the electric motors.

3.) [T]

to deliberately give secret information to a newspaper, television company etc

▪ The report's findings had been leaked.

leak sth to sb

▪ civil servants who leak information to the press

leak out phr v

if secret information leaks out, a lot of people find out about it

▪ No sooner had the news leaked out than my telephone started ringing.

leak ²

leak² n

1.) a small hole that lets liquid or gas flow into or out of something

▪ There is a leak in the ceiling.

▪ The boat had sprung a leak (=a hole had appeared in it) .

2.) a gas/oil/water etc leak

an escape of gas or liquid through a hole in something

▪ A gas leak caused the explosion.

3.) a situation in which secret information is deliberately given to a newspaper, television company etc

▪ It became evident from the leaks that something important was going on.

4.) take/have a leak informal

to get rid of waste liquid from your body

= ↑urinate