leakn.
/liːk/, U.S. /lik/ 1.
a. A hole or fissure in a vessel containing or immersed in a fluid, by which the latter enters or escapes from the vessel, so as to cause loss or injury: said originally and esp. of ships; also in †to fall in leak, to spring a leak.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > liquid > liquid which has been emitted > action or process of leaking > [noun]
leak1487
leakagec1503
leaking1611
sipage1825
the world > matter > liquid > liquid which has been emitted > action or process of leaking > [noun] > hole or fissure in vessel containing fluid
leak1487
leakage1776
society > travel > travel by water > shipwreck > suffer shipwreck [verb (intransitive)] > take in water > develop a leak
to fall in leak1487
to spring a leak1624
the world > space > relative position > condition of being open or not closed > an opening or aperture > [noun] > communicating with outside or air > a leak
leak1487
inleck1582
leakage1776
1487 in M. Oppenheim Naval Accts. & Inventories Henry VII (1896) 25 The stopping of lekes.
1497 in M. Oppenheim Naval Accts. & Inventories Henry VII (1896) 131 Lost in a ship..by occasion of a leke falling in the same.
1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid vi. vi. 67 The jonit barge, Sa full of riftis, and with lekkis perbraik.
1531–2 Act 23 Hen. VIII c. 7 If..the shippe..happen to fall in leke.
1589 Voy. W. Towrson in R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations i. 122 We found a great leake in the stemme of our ship.
1624 J. Smith Gen. Hist. Virginia vi. 230 The next day the lesser ship sprung a leake.
1626 J. Smith Accidence Young Sea-men 19 Sling a man ouer-boord to stop the leake.
1642 T. Fuller Holy State i. viii. 20 Many little leaks may sink a ship.
a1653 Z. Boyd Zion's Flowers (1855) 11 Consider well before a leck begin, It seemes I heare the water wheesing in.
1727 P. Longueville Hermit 56 We found our Ship had sprung a Lake.
1782 W. Cowper Loss Royal George 19 She sprang no fatal leak.
1815 W. Scott Lord of Isles i. xviii. 25 Rent was the sail, and strain'd the mast, And many a leak was gaping fast.
b. transferred and figurative.
ΘΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > inferiority or baseness > imperfection > [noun] > an imperfection > a weakness
leak1597
weakness1597
a screw loose1810
society > morality > moral evil > evil nature or character > [noun] > state of having moral defects > moral defect
lackc1200
vice1338
default1340
fault1377
infirmity1382
wallet1528
flaw1586
failing1590
leak1597
delinquency1606
tare?1608
shortcominga1687
1597 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie v. ix. 16 There..will be alwaies euils which no arte of man can cure, breaches and leakes moe then mans wit hath hands to stop.
1602 J. Marston Antonios Reuenge iv. ii. sig. G3v Fooles, That can not search the leakes of his defectes.
1622 G. Hakewill King David's Vow (new ed.) vi. 229 It being the property of a foole to be full of leakes.
1807 J. Beresford Miseries Human Life II. xx. 251 A leak in the waistcoat-pocket in which you carry all your money.
1873 P. G. Hamerton Intellect. Life (1875) x. viii. 373 An able finance minister who has found means of closing a great leak in the treasury.
1900 Ld. Rosebery Napoleon xvi. 246 Russia was the fatal leak in his Continental System.
c. A path or component of relatively high electrical resistance through which a small current flows.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > resistance > [noun]
resistance1746
R1842
water resistance1859
resistivity1885
skin effect1890
high-frequency resistance1892
leak1896
negative resistance1896
photoresistance1925
piezoresistance1954
piezoresistivity1958
1896 T. E. Herbert Electr. in Applic. to Telegr. xvii. 81 B is connected to earth as is the end of our 40 ohm leak.
1919 Radio Rev. Nov. 82 R is a large resistance which acts as a grid leak, and should be chosen so as to keep the grids at a voltage found advantageous by trial.
1940 Amateur Radio Handbk. (ed. 2) ii. 33/2 The grid will take up a potential such that the current from grid to filament equals the current through the leak in either the positive or negative half cycle.
1966 McGraw-Hill Encycl. Sci. & Technol. (rev. ed.) II. 184/1 There is always a small grid current flowing through the grid-leak resistor when cathode or fixed bias is used.
d. An improper or deliberate disclosure of information (e.g. for political purposes).
ΘΠ
society > communication > manifestation > disclosure or revelation > [noun] > a disclosure > disclosure of secret information > improper or deliberate
leak1950
1950 H. D. Lasswell National Security ii. 34 Americans are accustomed to ‘government by leak’.
1957 Economist 28 Sept. 1004/2 The allegation of a ‘leak’ about last Thursday's increase in Bank rate has brought forth understandable indignation from those City dealers whose fingers were burned, and an equally understandable demand by the Labour Party for a full inquiry.
1960 L. Cooper Accomplices i. ii. 17 Confidential stuff about a security leak from one of our research stations.
1960 News Chron. 30 Apr. 4/2 No agenda, no communiqué, no inspired leaks.
1965 H. Kahn On Escalation iii. 56 In..1964, the United States and the Chinese engaged in a series of such semiformal leaks and announcements about the war in Vietnam.
1967 Punch 4 Oct. 509/3 Long among the most skilled practitioners of leak journalism.
1973 Guardian 10 Apr. 15/3 The EEC Commission spent an hour and a half..discussing leaks and how to plug them (or so it is reliably leaked to Miscellany).
2.
a. The action of leaking; leakage.
ΘΠ
the mind > possession > loss > [noun] > loss of fluid
leakagec1503
leak1828
the mind > possession > loss > [noun] > loss of fluid > a leak
leakagea1661
leak1828
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming out > [noun] > of something confined > of liquid > leaking
leakagec1503
leaking1611
leak1896
1828–32 in N. Webster Amer. Dict. Eng. Lang.
1896 Academy 11 Apr. 399/1 In hydrogen the leak was slowest... The rate of leak in the halogens is also very rapid.
b. Leakage of electric charge or current (see leakage n. 2b).
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > electrically induced magnetism > [noun] > magnetic flux > escape of flux
leak1863
leakage1902
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > transmission of electricity, conduction > non-conduction, insulation > [noun] > result of defective insulation
leak1863
leakage1863
leakage conductance1887
leakance1893
sneak-current1899
creepage1958
1863 R. S. Culley Handbk. Pract. Telegr. iv. 65 Suppose..a fault to occur connecting the wire to the earth, and offering a resistance equal to that of 20 miles of the line. This ‘leak’ will lessen the total resistance of the circuit..as if a wire 20 miles long..were fixed to the line at the fault.
1893 O. Heaviside Electromagn. Theory I. 453 A process..of representing a large number of separate leaks by uniform leakance.
1895 S. P. Thompson & E. Thomas Electr. Tab. & Mem. 52 It will..show the position of a leak from one wire to another.
1906 London, Edinb. & Dublin Philos. Mag. 6th Ser. 12 403 With very thin paper..no discharge could be observed, whilst in the case of aluminium leaf 0·0005 mm. in thickness a difference in the rate of leak was observed.
1939 Post Office Electr. Engineers' Jrnl. 32 138 (heading) The localization of small leaks in the underground transmission line system at Cooling Radio Station.
c. slang. An act of urination. Frequently in to take a leak, to urinate. Cf. leak v. 2c.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > organs of excretion > defecation or urination > urinary system > [noun] > urination
pissinga1398
urine1561
urination1599
staling1601
miction1663
urining1668
piss?1837
piddle1870
micturating1879
pee1880
pee-wee1909
wet1925
peeing1929
leak1934
Jimmy Riddle1937
wee-wee1937
tinkle1939
run-off1944
slash1950
No. 11965
wee1968
widdle1969
gypsy's kiss1971
Jimmy1971
whizz1971
gypsy's1972
void1980
wazz1994
the world > life > the body > organs of excretion > defecation or urination > urinary system > urinate [verb (intransitive)]
migheeOE
pissc1300
to make water?a1475
stale1530
leak1598
urinate1599
minge1606
urine1607
water1631
stroana1730
to pass water1738
to pump ship1759
piddle1784
to make one's burn1788
pittle1801
pee1825
micturate1842
tiddlea1852
leck1922
wet1925
whizz1929
wee-wee1930
wee1934
widdle1934
to go (make) wee-wee1937
tinkle1943
void1947
to take a leak1969
potty1972
slash1973
wazz1984
1934 H. Miller Tropic of Cancer 182 I stood there taking a leak.
1968 K. Weatherly Roo Shooter 111 I saw Sam get out of the Rover... I thought he'd got out for a leak.
1969 G. Greene Trav. with my Aunt ii. vi. 282 All these hours of standing without taking a leak.
1972 F. Raphael April, June & Nov. 283 ‘The guest toilets at the Palace aren't really all that marvellous.’ ‘..Thanks for the tip, I'll remember to take a leak before I go next time.’
Compounds
General attributive.
Categories »
leak-alarm n. a device for indicating the rising or accumulation of water in the hold of a ship (E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. 1875).
leak detector n. any device for detecting leaks of fluid.
ΘΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > discovery > instrument for detection > [noun] > electronic > used for specific purpose
gas detector1865
hydrostat1871
kinesiscope1893
leak detector1921
mine detector1943
sky screen1945
heat-seeker1956
1921 Chambers's Jrnl. July 454/2 Each bag..is inflated with air and examined all over its surface with leak-detectors.
1968 Non-Destructive Testing I. 215/1 Shell have developed a portable hydrocarbon leak detector to facilitate the overhaul of [gas] mains.
leak-indicator n. = leak-alarm n.
leak-proof adj. not subject to leaks.
ΘΠ
the world > space > relative position > closed or shut condition > [adjective] > stopping up or blocking > without leak or tight
tight1507
unleakable1838
leakless1899
leak-proof1926
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming out > letting or sending out > [adjective] > let out > leaking > not
leakless1899
leak-proof1926
1926 Kitchen Kook (Amer. Gas Mach. Co. Inc.) 3 The fuel..is contained in an electrically welded, leakproof, steel tank.
1929 Daily Express 8 Jan. 8/5 Waste heat in leak-proof pipes to towns near the coalfields.
1960 Farmer & Stockbreeder 15 Mar. 44/2 (caption) It's leakproof.
1971 Engineering Apr. 92/2 (advt.) Instant..safe..leakproof joints... A pipeline which is flexible while remaining absolutely leak-proof.
leak-signal n. = leak-alarm n.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1902; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
† leakadj.
Obsolete.
= leaky adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being open or not closed > an opening or aperture > [adjective] > having (a) hole(s) > leaky
leakc897
leakingc1420
unstanched1607
leakya1616
untight1622
c897 K. Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care lvii. 437 Swiðe lytlum sicerað ðæt wæter & swiðe degellice on ðæt hlece scip.
c1100 in A. S. Napier Old Eng. Glosses ii. 480 Rimosa, hlec.
1533 J. Heywood Play of Wether sig. Ciiii Olde moones be leake they can holde no water.
1544 in J. Stuart Extracts Council Reg. Aberdeen (1844) I. 205 The Inglismen..knawand that thair schip was lek, geve thaim thair leif.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. v. sig. E4v And fifty sisters water in leke [Faults Escaped: lete; 1596 leake] vessels draw.
1622 R. Hawkins Observ. Voiage South Sea xxxv. 87 Thus, this leake-ship went well into England.
1626 J. Smith Accidence Young Sea-men 13 A ship cranke sided, Iron sicke, spewes her okum, a leake ship.
1637–50 J. Row Hist. Kirk Scotl. (Wodrow Soc.) 398 The ship not tight enough, being leck.
a1678 A. Marvell Char. Holland in Misc. Poems (1681) 112 Who best could know to pump an Earth so leak.
1777 Essex Inst. Hist. Coll. XLII. 319 She is Arrived Leake, with a Ship from England.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1902; most recently modified version published online March 2021).
leakv.
/liːk/, U.S. /lik/ 1.
a. intransitive. To pass (out, away, forth) by a leak or leakage. Also figurative, to pass away by gradual waste.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > liquid > liquid which has been emitted > action or process of leaking > leak, of liquid [verb (intransitive)]
leakc1420
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming out > go or come out [verb (intransitive)] > of something confined > leak
leakc1420
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > transmission of electricity, conduction > non-conduction, insulation > escape [verb (intransitive)]
leak1863
c1420 Pallad. on Husb. vi. 33 Let diche hit deep that humour out may leke, If hit be weet.
1648 Bp. J. Wilkins Math. Magick ii. v. 181 It is easie to conceive how..the water, which will perhaps by degrees leak into several parts, may be emptyed out again.
a1728 J. Woodward Attempt Nat. Hist. Fossils Eng. (1729) i. 243 A Crack, through which a small quantity of the Liquor leak'd forth.
1791 T. Paine Rights of Man i. 146 The gold and silver..leak continually away by unseen means, at the average rate of about three quarters of a million a-year.
1863 R. S. Culley Handbk. Pract. Telegr. vii. 106 The dampness of the insulators enables part of the electricity to leak or escape from one wire to another, and to the earth.
1890 Spectator 23 Aug. 232/1 A democracy that has allowed its chief political interests to leak away.
1917 G. D. Shepardson Telephone Apparatus xiv. 224 Little talking current ‘leaked’ through the signaling equipment.
1959 Which? Winter 37/1 If there is a fault in an electrical appliance and current leaks to the exposed parts.
b. to leak out (figurative): to transpire or become known in spite of efforts at concealment.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > manifestation > disclosure or revelation > disclose or make revelations [verb (intransitive)] > be disclosed or revealed > inadvertently
to get out1792
to leak out1832
slip1848
1832 N. Webster Dict. Eng. Lang. To leak out,..to escape privately from confinement or secresy; as a fact or report.
1834 S. Smith Sel. Lett. Major Jack Downing 58 If it should leak out that I was going.
1840 R. H. Dana Two Years before Mast xiv. 33 We had heard rumours of such a ship to follow us, which had leaked out from the captain.
1852 H. B. Stowe Uncle Tom's Cabin II. xix. 18 I can see it leaking out in fifty different ways—just that same strong, overbearing, dominant spirit.
1884 Manch. Examiner 27 May 5/1 The outcry which was raised when the rumour of it leaked out.
1884 ‘Rita’ Vivienne ii. v The carefully-guarded secret had leaked out in some way or other.
2. To allow the passage of fluid through a leak:
a. inwards.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > liquid > liquid which has been emitted > action or process of leaking > leak, of liquid [verb (intransitive)] > let in through a leak
leak1513
to take in?a1600
the world > space > relative position > condition of being open or not closed > an opening or aperture > have an opening or aperture [verb (intransitive)] > leak
leak1513
1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid i. iii. 50 Thai all leckit, and salt watter stremis Fast bullerand in at every ryft and boir.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 606/1 I leeke, as a shyppe or bote dothe that taketh in water... Labour well, syrs, at the pompe, for our shyppe leaketh.
1555 R. Eden Disc. Vyage rounde Worlde in tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde f. 229v One of theyr shyppes leaked and toke water very sore.
a1568 in J. Cranstoun Satirical Poems Reformation (1891) I. xlvi. 19 Gif scho lekkis, gett men of skill To stop hir hoilis laich in þe howis.
1708 J. Philips Cyder ii. 66 Against a secret Cliff..A Ship is dash'd, and leaking drinks the Sea.
1873 R. Browning Red Cotton Night-cap Country ii. 87 Carried pick-a-back by Eldobert Big-baby-fashion, lest his leathers leak!
b. outwards.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > liquid > liquid which has been emitted > action or process of leaking > leak, of liquid [verb (intransitive)] > let out through a leak
leak1530
to run out1530
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming out > letting or sending out > let or send out [verb (intransitive)] > let out through a leak
leak1530
weep1869
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 606/1 This hogges heed of wyne leaketh.
1557 New Test. (Geneva) Heb. ii. 1 (note) Lest like vessells ful of chappes we leake, and renne out on euery part.
a1600 A. Montgomerie Misc. Poems xxxvii. 21 Go to—vhat rek? and gar the bealing brek; For, fra it lek, I hald the danger done.
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 iv. iii. 47 That the vnited vessell of their bloud, (Mingled with venome of suggestion..) Shall neuer leake, though it doe worke as strong, As Aconitum, or rash gunpowder. View more context for this quotation
1835 J. Ross Narr. Second Voy. North-west Passage vi. 86 The starboard boiler began to leak.
c. slang. To urinate.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > organs of excretion > defecation or urination > urinary system > urinate [verb (intransitive)]
migheeOE
pissc1300
to make water?a1475
stale1530
leak1598
urinate1599
minge1606
urine1607
water1631
stroana1730
to pass water1738
to pump ship1759
piddle1784
to make one's burn1788
pittle1801
pee1825
micturate1842
tiddlea1852
leck1922
wet1925
whizz1929
wee-wee1930
wee1934
widdle1934
to go (make) wee-wee1937
tinkle1943
void1947
to take a leak1969
potty1972
slash1973
wazz1984
1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 ii. i. 20 Why they will allowe vs nere a Iordane, and then we leake in your chimney. View more context for this quotation
a1661 B. Holyday tr. Juvenal Satyres (1673) 51 Some great ones drinking so hard, that they even leak'd on their supper couches.
1673 J. Dryden Amboyna v. 54 Boy, give me some Tobacco, and a stope of Wine..And a Tub to leak in Boy; when was this Table without a leaking Vessel.
1734 J. Swift Strephon & Cloe in Beautiful Young Nymph 16 Twelve Cups of Tea, (with Grief I speak) Had now constrain'd the Nymph to leak.
1796 Grose's Classical Dict. Vulgar Tongue (ed. 3)
1957 J. Kerouac On the Road i. xiii. 90 The prowl car came by and the cop got out to leak.
1971 D. E. Westlake I gave at Office (1972) 173 I kept thinking he'd come back from the john—how long can one man leak?
ΚΠ
a1616 W. Shakespeare Timon of Athens (1623) iv. ii. 19 Leak'd is our Barke. View more context for this quotation
1622 in Bradford Plymouth Plantation (1856) 138 Within 14. days after she [a ship] came againe hither, being dangerously leaked and brused with tempestious stormes.
1699 W. Dampier Voy. & Descr. iii. vi. 69 Some of the Rum they found; a Cask in one place and a Cask in another:..some staved against the Trees and leeked out.
1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson iii. iv. 333 Finding many of our casks so decayed, as to be half leaked out.
4. † b. figurative. To cause to run out or escape.
a. transitive. To let (water, etc.) in or out through a leak. ? Now U.S. only.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > liquid > liquid which has been emitted > action or process of leaking > let in through a leak [verb (transitive)]
leak1692
to let in1748
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming out > letting or sending out > let or send out [verb (transitive)] > let out > through a leak
leak1692
1692 J. Locke Some Thoughts conc. Educ. §7 (1693) 6 To have his Shooes made so, as to leak Water.
1757 T. Birch Hist. Royal Soc. IV. 548 It would be next to impossible to make pipes to hold so perfectly as not to leak air in some parts.
1889 Cent. Dict. (at cited word) The pipe leaks gas; the roof leaks rain.
ΚΠ
1655 W. Gurnall Christian in Armour: 1st Pt. 97 Satan lies upon the catch, then to inveigle a Saint into one sin or other, which he knows will soon leak out his joy.
c. To allow the disclosure of (secret or confidential information). (Cf. sense 1b and leak n. 1d.) Also intransitive.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > manifestation > disclosure or revelation > disclose or reveal [verb (transitive)] > secrets
discovera1375
labc1400
bewray1578
blab1582
discabinet1605
eviscerate1607
eliminate1608
to give upa1640
vent1678
betray1734
confide1735
leak1859
to shell out1862
clatfart1913
spill1917
unzip1939
1859 G. W. Matsell Vocabulum 50 Leak, to impart a secret.
1916 W. Owen Let. Aug. (1967) 402 Here I am beginning to ‘Leak information’, (when I have to read daily a solemn W.O. Letter, saying that no talk of the War is ever to be indulged in, even in private letters.)
1954 Encounter June 11/1 In practice [the dial number] was a secret in name only, since supervisors were instructed to ‘leak’ the number ‘confidentially’ to various employees.
1958 Punch 3 Nov. 10/3 It seemed pretty clear from what the F.O. had leaked to us that Bonaparte had crossed the Niemen.
1958 Ann. Reg. 1957 195 In a miscalculated effort to prepare the public and Congress for the new doctrine, it had been deliberately ‘leaked’ well beforehand.
1959 John o' London's Weekly 26 Nov. 265/3 A..U.S. Air Force sergeant..promptly scares off the circling sharks by leaking information about her non-existent husband.
1962 Listener 25 Oct. 647/2 The Council Fathers are supposed to maintain complete discretion, though almost all of them ‘leak’ to the press.
1971 Daily Tel. 14 July 3/4 It was not sufficient for the tribunal merely to establish by whose hand information..was improperly leaked.
1973 Guardian 10 Apr. 15/3 The EEC Commission spent an hour and a half..discussing leaks and how to plug them (or so it is reliably leaked to Miscellany).
5. Brewing. To cause (liquor) to run over, on, off, in small quantities or by degrees. Obsolete exc. dialect.Cf. Scottish ‘To lek, leck, to pour water over bark or other substance, in order to obtain a decoction; to strain off, Clydes[dale]’ (Jamieson). See also leck v. in Eng. Dial. Dict.
ΚΠ
1674 J. Ray N. Countrey Words in Coll. Eng. Words 29 Leck on, poure on more, Liquor, v.g.
1743 W. Ellis London & Country Brewer (ed. 2) II. 119 Put your Malt in by Degrees, and stir it..then leak on your Complement.
1743 W. Ellis London & Country Brewer (ed. 2) II. 122 Leaking over.—Is what may be called putting over the Malt, at Times, many Hand-bowls of Water, that it may run gradually off, and wash away the Flower of the Malt by a slow Degree.
1788 W. Marshall Provincialisms E. Yorks. in Rural Econ. Yorks. II. 339 To Leck-on, to add more water, as in brewing.
1790 Trans. Soc. Arts 8 151 Draining the liquor through a sieve, instead of leaking it off gradually.
Derivatives
leaked adj.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > manifestation > disclosure or revelation > [adjective] > disclosed or revealed > of a secret
leaked1972
1972 Times 30 Sept. 3/1 Legislation covering ‘leaked’ information is proposed by the Franks Committee on Official Secrets.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1902; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1487
adj.c897v.c1420