an unintended hole, crack, or the like, through which liquid, gas, light, etc., enters or escapes: a leak in the roof.
an act or instance of leaking.
any means of unintended entrance or escape.
Electricity. the loss of current from a conductor, usually resulting from poor insulation.
a disclosure of secret, especially official, information, as to the news media, by an unnamed source.
verb (used without object)
to let a liquid, gas, light, etc., enter or escape, as through an unintended hole or crack: The boat leaks.
to pass in or out in this manner, as liquid, gas, or light: gas leaking from a pipe.
to become known unintentionally (usually followed by out): The news leaked out.
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)
to let (liquid, gas, light, etc.) enter or escape: This camera leaks light.
to allow to become known, as information given out covertly: to leak the news of the ambassador's visit.
Idioms for leak
take a leak, Slang: Vulgar. to urinate.
Origin of leak
1375–1425; 1955–60 for def. 11; late Middle English leken<Old Norse leka to drip, leak; akin to Dutch lek,obsolete German lech leaky. See leach1