LEAK
Dictionary entry overview: What does leak mean?
• LEAK (noun)
The noun LEAK has 5 senses:
1. an accidental hole that allows something (fluid or light etc.) to enter or escape
2. soft watery rot in fruits and vegetables caused by fungi
3. a euphemism for urination
4. the unwanted discharge of a fluid from some container
5. unauthorized (especially deliberate) disclosure of confidential information
Familiarity information: LEAK used as a noun is common.
• LEAK (verb)
The verb LEAK has 4 senses:
1. tell anonymously
2. be leaked
3. enter or escape as through a hole or crack or fissure
4. have an opening that allows light or substances to enter or go out
Familiarity information: LEAK used as a verb is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
• LEAK (noun)
Meaning:
An accidental hole that allows something (fluid or light etc.) to enter or escape
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)
Context example:
one of the tires developed a leak
Hypernyms ("leak" is a kind of...):
hole (an opening into or through something)
Meaning:
Soft watery rot in fruits and vegetables caused by fungi
Classified under:
Nouns denoting stable states of affairs
Hypernyms ("leak" is a kind of...):
soft rot (mushy or slimy decay of plants caused by bacteria or fungi)
Meaning:
A euphemism for urination
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural processes
Synonyms:
passing water; making water; wetting; leak
Context example:
he had to take a leak
Hypernyms ("leak" is a kind of...):
micturition; urination (the discharge of urine)
Meaning:
The unwanted discharge of a fluid from some container
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural events
Synonyms:
leakage; outflow; escape; leak
Context examples:
they tried to stop the escape of gas from the damaged pipe / he had to clean up the leak
Hypernyms ("leak" is a kind of...):
discharge; outpouring; run (the pouring forth of a fluid)
Meaning:
Unauthorized (especially deliberate) disclosure of confidential information
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Synonyms:
news leak; leak
Hypernyms ("leak" is a kind of...):
disclosure; revealing; revelation (the speech act of making something evident)
• LEAK (verb)
Meaning:
Tell anonymously
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Context example:
The news were leaked to the paper
Hypernyms (to "leak" is one way to...):
break; bring out; disclose; discover; divulge; expose; give away; impart; let on; let out; reveal; unwrap (make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret)
Cause:
break; get around; get out (be released or become known; of news)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody something
Somebody ----s something to somebody
Meaning:
Be leaked
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Synonyms:
leak out; leak
Context example:
The news leaked out despite his secrecy
Hypernyms (to "leak" is one way to...):
break; get around; get out (be released or become known; of news)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
Meaning:
Enter or escape as through a hole or crack or fissure
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Context examples:
Water leaked out of the can into the backpack / Gas leaked into the basement
Hypernyms (to "leak" is one way to...):
come forth; come out; egress; emerge; go forth; issue (come out of)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP
Meaning:
Have an opening that allows light or substances to enter or go out
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Context examples:
The container leaked gasoline / the roof leaks badly
"Leak" entails doing...:
break; bust; fall apart; wear; wear out (go to pieces)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "leak"):
bilge; take in water (take in water at the bilge)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
