leak

leak

to allow the passage of a substance through a flaw: There is a water leak in the pipe under the sink.; a breach of secrecy: They leaked the story to the press.

Not to be confused with:

leek – a plant related to the onion with a slender bulb and dark green leaves

Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree

leak

 (lēk)

v. leaked, leak·ing, leaks

v.intr.

1. To permit the escape, entry, or passage of something through a breach or flaw: rusted pipes that were beginning to leak; a boat leaking at the seams.

2. To escape or pass through a breach or flaw: helium leaking slowly from the balloon.

3. To become publicly known through a breach of secrecy: The news has leaked.

v.tr.

1. To permit (a substance) to escape or pass through a breach or flaw: a damaged reactor leaking radioactivity into the atmosphere.

2. To disclose without authorization or official sanction: leaked classified information to a reporter.

n.

1. A crack or flaw that permits something to escape from or enter a container or conduit: fixed the leak in the roof.

2.

a. The act or instance of leaking.

b. An amount leaked: equipment used in cleaning up oil leaks.

3. An unauthorized or a deliberate disclosure of confidential information: "Sometimes we can't respond to stories based on leaks" (Ronald Reagan).

4.

a. Loss of electric current as a result of faulty insulation.

b. The path or place at which this loss takes place.

Idiom:

take a leak Vulgar Slang

To urinate.

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[Middle English leken, probably from Middle Dutch lēken.]

---

leak′er n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

leak

(liːk)

n

1.

a. a crack, hole, etc, that allows the accidental escape or entrance of fluid, light, etc

b. 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. (Electronics) 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

vb

8. to enter or escape or allow to enter or escape through a crack, hole, etc

9. (when: intr, often foll by out) to disclose (secret information), often intentionally, or (of secret information) to be disclosed

10. (Physiology) (intr) a slang word for urinate

[C15: from Scandinavian; compare Old Norse leka to drip]

ˈleaker n

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

leak

(lik)

n.

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. the loss of electric current from a conductor, usu. resulting from poor insulation.

5. a disclosure of secret, esp. official, information by an unnamed source.

v.i.

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

7. to pass in or out in this manner.

8. to become known unintentionally (usu. fol. by out).

v.t.

9. to let (liquid, gas, light, etc.) enter or escape: This camera leaks light.

10. to allow to become known, as information given out covertly.

Idioms:

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

[1375–1425; late Middle English leken, liken]

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

leak

Past participle: leaked
Gerund: leaking

Imperative

leak

leak

Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	leak - an accidental hole that allows something (fluid or light etc.) to enter or escape; "one of the tires developed a leak" hole - an opening into or through something
	2.	leak - soft watery rot in fruits and vegetables caused by fungi soft rot - mushy or slimy decay of plants caused by bacteria or fungi
	3.	leak - a euphemism for urination; "he had to take a leak" making water, passing water, wetting euphemism - an inoffensive or indirect expression that is substituted for one that is considered offensive or too harsh micturition, urination - the discharge of urine
	4.	leak - the discharge of a fluid from some container; "they tried to stop the escape of gas from the damaged pipe"; "he had to clean up the leak" leakage, outflow, escape outpouring, discharge, run - the pouring forth of a fluid
	5.	leak - unauthorized (especially deliberate) disclosure of confidential information news leak disclosure, revealing, revelation - the speech act of making something evident
Verb	1.	leak - tell anonymously; "The news were leaked to the paper" disclose, let on, divulge, expose, give away, let out, reveal, unwrap, discover, bring out, break - make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret; "The auction house would not disclose the price at which the van Gogh had sold"; "The actress won't reveal how old she is"; "bring out the truth"; "he broke the news to her"; "unwrap the evidence in the murder case"
	2.	leak - be leaked; "The news leaked out despite his secrecy" leak out get around, get out, break - be released or become known; of news; "News of her death broke in the morning"
	3.	leak - enter or escape as through a hole or crack or fissure; "Water leaked out of the can into the backpack"; "Gas leaked into the basement" egress, come forth, emerge, go forth, come out, issue - come out of; "Water issued from the hole in the wall"; "The words seemed to come out by themselves"
	4.	leak - have an opening that allows light or substances to enter or go out; "The container leaked gasoline"; "the roof leaks badly" take in water, bilge - take in water at the bilge; "the tanker bilged"

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

leak

verb

1. escape, pass, spill, release, discharge, drip, trickle, ooze, seep, exude, percolate The pool's sides had cracked and the water had leaked out.

2. disclose, tell, reveal, pass on, give away, make public, divulge, let slip, make known, spill the beans (informal), blab (informal), let the cat out of the bag, blow wide open (slang) He revealed who had leaked a confidential police report.

noun

1. leakage, leaking, discharge, drip, oozing, seepage, percolation It's thought a gas leak may have caused the blast.

2. hole, opening, crack, puncture, aperture, chink, crevice, fissure, perforation a leak in the radiator

3. disclosure, exposé, exposure, admission, revelation, uncovering, betrayal, unearthing, divulgence Serious leaks involving national security are likely to be investigated.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

leak

verb

Informal. To be made public.Also used with out:

break, come out, get out, out, transpire.

Idiom: come to light.

The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Translations

تَسَرُّبتَسْريب أخْبارشِق أو مَسْرَبيَتَسَرَّبُيَدْلِف، يَتَسَرَّبُ منه الماء

unikatvyzraditdírapropouštětprozrazení

lække=-læklæklækage

LeckleckentropfendurchlassenDurchsickern

διαρροήδιαρρέω

escapegoteargoterafiltrarfuga

vuotaavuoto

fuirfuitelivreraccuserdénoncer

curenjecuriti

áteresztcsepegkiszivárgáskiszivárogtatlék

gat, lekilekaleki

perdereperditafessurafugafiltrare

漏れる漏れ口

새는 곳새다

ištekėjimaskiaurasnuotėkisslaptos informacijos išdavimassunktis

izpaustnoplūdenoplūstplūstsūce

lekkenlek

lekkasjelekkeutetthetutslippvære lekk

przeciecprzeciek

vazarfugagotejarrombo

течьутечкадавать течьпротекатьпротечка

prezradenieunikanieunikať

puščatirazkritirazpokauhajanjeuhajati

läcka

การรั่วรั่ว

sızdırmaksızıntıyarıkakıntıakıtmak

lỗ thủngrò rỉ

漏漏洞透露泄漏渗漏

leak

[liːk]

A. N

1. (= hole) (in roof) → gotera f; (in pipe, radiator, tank) → rotura f; (in boat) → vía f de agua
see also spring B1

2. (= escape) [of gas, water, chemical] → escape m, fuga f

3. (fig) [of information, document] → filtración f
see also security B

4. to go for or have or take a leak → echar una meada, mear

B. VI

1. (= be leaky) [roof] → tener goteras; [pipe, radiator, tank] → gotear, tener una fuga; [boat] → hacer agua; [pen] → perder tinta
her shoes leaked → le entraba agua en or por los zapatos
the window is leaking a bit → entra un poco de agua por la ventana
my pen has leaked onto my shirt → me ha caído tinta del bolígrafo en la camisa

2. (= escape) radioactive gas was leaking from a reactor → había un escape or fuga de gas radiactivo en un reactor
water was leaking through the roof → entraba agua por el tejado, goteaba agua del tejado

C. VT

1. [+ liquid] (= discharge) → perder; (= pour out) → derramar
a tanker has leaked oil into the Baltic Sea → un petrolero ha derramado petróleo al mar Báltico
it is feared that these weapons could leak plutonium → se teme que se produzca un escape de plutonio de estas armas

2. (fig) [+ information, document] → filtrar (to a) his letter was leaked to the press → su carta se filtró a la prensa

leak in VI + ADV [liquid] → entrar

leak out VI + ADV

1. (lit) [gas, liquid] → salirse

2. (fig) [secret, news, information] → filtrarse

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

leak

[ˈliːk]

n

[liquid, gas] → fuite f
a gas leak → une fuite de gaz

(= hole) (in roof, pipe, container, boat) → fuite f
The roof has got a leak → Le toit a une fuite.
to spring a leak [pipes, roof] → se mettre à fuir; [boat] → subir une voie d'eau
The boat had sprung a leak → Le bateau avait subi une voie d'eau.

(= disclosure) [information, document] → fuite f
There has been a security leak
BUT Il y a eu des brèches dans les systèmes de sécurité.

vi

[pipe, container, roof] → fuir; [shoes] → prendre l'eau
The roof leaked → Le toit fuyait.

[liquid, gas] → s'échapper

vt

[+ liquid, gas] → perdre

[+ information, document] → divulguer
A civil servant was imprisoned for leaking a document to the press → Un fonctionnaire a été emprisonné pour avoir divulgué le document à la presse.
The story was leaked to the press
BUT Il y a eu des fuites dans la presse à propos de l'affaire.

leak out

vi

[liquid, gas] → fuir

[information] → filtrer
Tales of this kind leak out from time to time → Des récits de ce genre filtrent de temps en temps.

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

leak

n

(= hole) → undichte Stelle; (in container) → Loch nt; (Naut) → Leck nt; to have a leak → undicht sein; (bucket etc) → laufen, lecken; my pen has a leak → mein Kugelschreiber läuft aus or ist nicht dicht; there’s a leak in the gas pipe → die Gasleitung ist undicht; the rain is coming in through a leak in the roof → es regnet durchs Dach herein

(= escape of liquid) → Leck nt; a gas leak → eine undichte Stelle in der Gasleitung; the tunnel was flooded because of the leaks → der Tunnel wurde vom eindringenden Wasser überflutet; a faulty joint caused a gas leak → durch die fehlerhafte Verbindung strömte Gas aus

(fig) → undichte Stelle; there was a leak of information → es sind Informationen durchgesickert; a security/news leak → eine undichte Stelle; the news leak may have been the result of carelessness → die Nachricht kann aufgrund or auf Grund einer Unachtsamkeit durchgesickert sein; a leak to the press → eine Indiskretion der Presse gegenüber; they wanted to break the news gently by a series of leaks to the press → sie wollten die Nachricht langsam an die Presse durchsickern lassen

(inf) to go for a leak, to have a leak → pissen gehen (vulg)

vt

(lit) → durchlassen; fuel → verlieren; that tank is leaking acid → aus diesem Tank läuft Säure aus; the tanker had leaked its contents into the river → der Tankerinhalt war in den Fluss gelaufen

(fig) information, story, plans → zuspielen (to sb jdm); secret → verraten (to sb jdm)

vi

(ship, receptacle, pipe) → lecken; (roof) → undicht or nicht dicht sein; (pen) → auslaufen, undicht sein

(gas) → ausströmen, entweichen; (liquid) → auslaufen; (= ooze out) → tropfen (from aus); water is leaking (in) through the roof → Wasser tropft or sickert durch das Dach, es regnet durch (das Dach durch); to leak away → auslaufen

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

leak

[liːk]

1. n (in pipe) → perdita, fuoriuscita; (in boat) → falla; (in roof, wall) → infiltrazione f; (of gas) → fuga, perdita, fuoriuscita (fig) (of information) → fuga di notizie
to have or take a leak (fam) → andare al bagno, andare a far pipì

2. vi (roof, bucket) → perdere; (ship) → far acqua; (shoes) → lasciar passare l'acqua
water was leaking into the cellar → l'acqua si stava infiltrando nella cantina

3. vt (liquid) → gocciolare, perdere (fig) (information) → divulgare

leak out vi + adv (liquid) → uscire (fuori); (gas) → esalare, uscire (fig) (news) → trapelare

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

leak

(liːk) noun

1. a crack or hole through which liquid or gas escapes. Water was escaping through a leak in the pipe. lekplek شِق أو مَسْرَب тек furo díra, štěrbina das Leck læk σημείο διαρροής, ρωγμή, τρύπαfuga, escape lekkekoht سوراخ؛ ترک vuoto fuiteדליפה छिद्र curiti lék bocoran gat, leki crepa, fessura 漏れ口 새는 곳(구멍) plyšys, skylė sūce bocor leklekkasje, utetthetdziura سورى furo spărtură течь štrbina razpoka pukotina läcka รอยรั่ว çatlak, yarık 裂縫，漏洞 теча شگاف lỗ rò; khe hở 漏洞

2. the passing of gas, water etc through a crack or hole. a gas-leak. lekkasie تَسَرُّب изтичане fuga unikání das Durchsickern læk; -læk διαρροή, διαφυγήfuga, escape leke نشت vuoto fuiteדליפה मूत्रत्याग curenje szivárgás bocor leki fuga 漏れ 누출 nutekėjimas, ištekėjimas sūce; noplūde yang bocor lekkagelekkasje, utslippwyciek, przeciek د ګازو د وسيدلو ځاۍ لكه وړوكې كان fuga scurgere утечка unikanie uhajanje plina, vode curenje läcka, läckage แก๊สรั่ว sızıntı, akıntı, kaçık 滲漏 витік کسی شگاف سے گیس یا پانی کا رسنا sự rò ra 泄漏

3. a giving away of secret information. a leak of Government plans. uitlek تَسْريب أخْبار изтичане vazamento prozrazení das Durchsickern læk διαρροή πληροφοριών filtración leke افشا vuoto fuite הַדלָפָה रहस्य खुल जाना odavanje kiszivárgás kebocoran (frétta)leki fuga 漏洩 (비밀의) 누설 (slaptos informacijos) išdavimas (informācijas) noplūde pembocoran het uitlekkenlekkasjeprzeciek څرګندول fuga scurgere de informaţii утечка информации prezradenie uhajanje, pronicanje (informacij) procurivanje läcka ข้อมูลรั่ว sızdırma, sızıntı 透露 витік خفیہ معلومات کا دانستہ ظاہر کرنا rò tin 透露

verb

1. to have a leak. This bucket leaks; The boiler leaked hot water all over the floor. lek يَدْلِف، يَتَسَرَّبُ منه الماء тека vazar téci; propouštět lecken lække παρουσιάζω διαρροή, στάζω, μπάζω νερά gotear lekkima, vett läbi andma نشتی داشتن vuotaa fuir לִדלוֹף रिसना, चूकर निकलना curiti (át)ereszt membocorkan leka perdere 漏る 새어나가다 tekėti, (pra)leisti sūkties; tecēt bocor lekkenlekke, være utettprzeciekać, przepuszczać سورې،لق او سليپ verter a avea o spărtură/o gaură протекать tiecť puščati curiti läcka รั่ว akıtmak, sızdırmak 滲漏 давати течу رسنا یا نکلنا rò rỉ 渗漏

2. to (cause something) to pass through a leak. Gas was leaking from the cracked pipe; He was accused of leaking secrets to the enemy. gelek يُسَرِّب изтичам vazar unikat; vyzradit durchsickern lække διαρρέωdejar salir, divulgar lekkima, saladusi välja lobisema نشت کردن vuotaa fuir, divulguer לִדלוֹף प्रकट हो जाना procuriti, odavati (ki)szivárog; kiszivárogtat bocor (láta) leka (út) lasciar uscire, far trapelare 漏れる 새게 하다 sunktis, nutekėti, išduoti []plūst; izpaust (faktus u.tml.) membocorkan lekken, laten uitlekken lekke, være lekk; la sive ut wyciekać, powodować przecieki له سورې نه تويدل escapar a se scurge, a divulga просачиваться; выдавать unikať; vyzradiť uhajati, širiti curiti läcka รั่วไหล sızmak, kaçmak 漏出 просочуватися شگاف سے کسی شے کا نکلنا rỉ; ngấm 漏

ˈleakage (-kidʒ) noun

(an act of) leaking. Leakages in several water-mains had been reported; a leakage of information. lekkasie تَسَرُّب изтичане vazamento prosakování; únik das Durchsickern lækage; udsivning διαρροήfuga, escape leke نشتی vuoto fuiteדליפה रिसाव, रहस्य खुल जाना curenje szivárgás kebocoran leki fuga, perdita 漏れ 누출 nuotėkis, nutekėjimas sūkšanās; sūce; (informācijas) noplūde kebocoran lekkagelekkasjeprzeciek سر چينه،منبع fuga scurgere утечка únik uhajanje propuštanje läckage, läckande ข้อมูลรั่ว sızıntı, akıntı 滲漏 витік, теча رسنے کا عمل sự rò rỉ 泄漏

ˈleaky adjective

a leaky boat. lekkerige يَتَسَرَّبُ منه الماء течащ furado děravý leck utæt; læk τρύπιος, που μπάζει νερά agujereado lekkiv سوراخ شده؛ چکه کننده vuotava qui fuit, percé דוֹלֶף रिसने वाला koji curi, propušta lyukas bocor lekur (che perde) 漏る 새는 구멍이 있는 kiauras caurs; ar sūci bocor lekutett, lekk cieknący, dziurawy سورۍ شوى،چكك furado neetanş, gău­rit имеющий течь deravý ki pušča koji propušta läckande, läck, otät ที่รั่ว sızdıran, kaçıran 有裂縫的，有漏洞的，會滲漏的 такий, що протікає رخنے دار، سوراخ دار bị rò rỉ 有漏洞的，渗漏的

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.

leak

→ تَسَرُّب, يَتَسَرَّبُ trhlina, unikat lækage, lække Leck, lecken διαρρέω, διαρροή escape, tener un escape vuotaa, vuoto fuir, fuite curenje, curiti perdere, perdita 漏れる, 漏れ口 새는 곳, 새다 lek, lekken lekkasje, lekke przeciec, przeciek fuga, gotejar, rombo, vazar давать течь, утечка läcka การรั่ว, รั่ว sızdırmak, sızıntı lỗ thủng, rò rỉ 漏, 漏洞

Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009

leak

n. [of gas] escape; [water] gotera, filtración; [to ___ out] salirse, derramarse, escaparse.

English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

• There's a leak in the radiator (US)
  There is a leak in the radiator (UK) → هُنَاكَ تَسْريبٌ في رَدْيِتُورِ السَيَّارَةِ → V chladiči je díra → Køleren er utæt → Der Kühler hat ein Leck → Υπάρχει διαρροή στο ψυγείο → El radiador está goteando → Jäähdyttimessä on vuoto → Il y a une fuite dans le radiateur → Radijator curi → C'è una perdita nel radiatore → ラジエーターに漏れがあります → 라디에이터가 새요 → Er zit een lek in de radiator → Det er en lekkasje i radiatoren → Jest wyciek z chłodnicy → Tem um vazamento no radiador → Радиатор дал течь → Kylaren läcker → หม้อน้ำรั่ว → Radyatör sızıntı yapıyor → Két nước bị rò → 散热管漏水

Collins Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009