leak Definition

leak
noun

1a. An unwanted crack or hole in a container, pipe, etc where liquid or gas can pass in or out;

Thesaurus: fissure, hole, opening, aperture, crack, crevice, perforation, puncture.
1b. The act or fact of liquid or gas escaping in this way;

Thesaurus: drip, seepage, oozing.
1c. Liquid or gas which has escaped in this way.
2a. A revelation of secret information, especially when unauthorized or apparently unauthorized;
2b. Information revealed in this way;
2c. Someone who reveals information in this way.
3. slang
An act of urinating.
Form: take a leak (usually in)
4. A loss of electricity from a conductor, etc, usually because of faulty insulation.
5. electronics.
A high resistance, especially serving as a discharging path for a condenser.

verb leaked, leaking

1a. Said of liquid, gas, etc: to pass accidentally in or out of an unwanted crack or hole;

Thesaurus: drip, spill, exude, seep, trickle, ooze.
intr
1b. To allow (liquid, gas, etc) to pass accidentally in or out.
2a. To reveal (secret information) without authorization, or apparently so;

Thesaurus: divulge, disclose, reveal, let slip, make known, let the cat out of the bag (slang), spill the beans (slang).
intr
2b. Said of secret information: to become known.
3. To urinate.

Derivative: leaking
noun, adj

Idiom: spring a leak

To become leaky, especially suddenly or unexpectedly.

Etymology: 15c as leken: from Norse leka.

Phrasal Verb: leak out

To escape.To be revealed.