| 释义 |
leap
I. \ˈlēp, dial or sometimes with reference to manege in Brit speech ˈlep\ verb
(leaped also leapt \ˈlēpt, chiefly Brit ˈlept\ ; leaped also leapt ; leaping ; leaps)
Etymology: Middle English lepen to run, jump, leap, from Old English hlēapan; akin to Middle Dutch lopen to run, Old High German hlouffan to run, Old Norse hlaupa to jump, leap, Gothic ushlaupan to jump up
intransitive verb
1. : to run hastily or with a leaping gait : rush, bound
< leaped home to greet his father >
< leaped into the fray >
2.
a.
(1) : to spring free from the ground or some other supporting surface by the muscular action of the feet and legs or in some animals the tail : project oneself through the air : hop, vault
< leaped high into the air >
< leap over a fence >
< leap down from a wall >
< a fish leaped out of the water >
< leaped on a moving bus >
< leaped on his horse and rode off >
(2) chiefly Scotland : to dance in skipping or bounding movements
(3) : to spring high from one foot to the other in dancing
(4) : to rise or throw itself into or through the air : move precipitately or violently
< guns on the hillocks leaped as they bellowed — Kenneth Roberts >
< the great rocket leaped skyward >
< a tongue of flame leaped down the stairway — Frank Yerby >
< a sparkling waterfall leaps from a cliff — American Guide Series: Oregon >
(5) : to rise to one's feet with a bound or other energetic movement
< leaped up and asked the chairman some pointed questions >
b. : to beat high : throb
< my heart would have leaped at sight of him — Kenneth Roberts >
3.
a. : to pass abruptly or without transition (as from one state or topic to another)
< the states of Latin America have leaped … from the ox-drawn cart to the airplane — Vera M. Dean >
< made his face leap into a sudden grimacing life — Bruce Mason >
< leap irreverently from one trifling matter to another — H.A.Overstreet >
b. : to increase suddenly and sharply
< costs on a job leap entirely out of proportion — P.J.Adam >
c. : to act or move precipitately or without careful thought or study (as in making judgments)
< leap to conclusions >
d. : to join, enter, or intervene with eagerness or alacrity
< leaped to his absent friend's defense >
< leaped into the discussion >
e. : to take quick or immediate advantage : accept eagerly — usually used with at
< leaped at the chance >
transitive verb
1.
a. : to pass over by a leap
< leap a wall >
< leap a ditch >
b. : to pass over as if by a leap
< may be said to have leaped the usual transitional stages — American Guide Series: Vermont >
2. : to copulate with : cover, serve — used of a male animal (as a stallion)
3. : to cause to leap
< leap a horse across a ditch >
Synonyms: see jump
II. noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle English leep, from Old English hlȳp; akin to Old English hlēapan to run, jump, leap
1.
a.
(1) : an act of leaping : spring, bound
(2) : a spring high into the air from one foot to the other in dancing
b.
(1) : a place that is or must be leaped over or one leaped from
< took the leap with great ease >
(2) : the distance covered by a leap
< a leap of 10 feet >
(3) : a place in a waterfall where fish can shoot up in ascending the stream
(4) : the sudden descent of a river to a lower level
< five clear leaps with intervening cascades — Arthur Holmes >
c.
(1) : an act of covering a female animal
(2) obsolete : an act of coitus
2.
a.
(1) : a sudden passage, transition, or change (as from one state to another)
< made an abrupt and difficult leap from a Latin classroom to an editorial desk — E.S.McCartney >
< knowledge took a great leap forward — Stuart Chase >
(2) : a choice exercised in the area of ultimate concerns : an existential decision
< a leap of faith >
b. : a skip in successive musical notes or tones
c. : a sharp or sudden increase
< a leap of over 117 percent — Rex Lardner >
Synonyms: see jump
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- by leaps and bounds
III. noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle English leep basket, from Old English lēap; akin to Old Norse laupr basket, Old English lēaf leaf — more at leaf
1. dialect England : a basket or box used especially for chaff or seed
2. dialect England : weel |