leak

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A hole or crack that lets liquid or gas pass through by accident.

   One of the tyres developed a leak.

2. 2
   verb

   To let liquid or gas escape or enter through a hole or crack.

   The old pipe was leaking water onto the floor.

3. 3
   verb

   To give secret information to the public, often deliberately.

   The news leaked out despite their secrecy.

4. 4
   noun

   A release of secret information.

   The report was based on a leak from inside the government.

From Middle English leken (“to let water in or out”), from Old English *lecan (“to leak”), Middle Dutch leken (“to leak, drip”) or Old Norse leka (“to leak, drip”); all from Proto-Germanic *lekaną (“to leak, drain”), from Proto-Indo-European *leg-, *leǵ- (“to leak”). Cognate with Dutch lekken (“to leak”), German lechen, lecken (“to leak”), Danish lække (“to leak”), Swedish läcka (“to leak”), Icelandic leka (“to leak”). Related also to Old English leċċan (“to water, wet”), Albanian lag, lak (“to damp, make wet”). See also leach, lake. (divulgation, disclosure of information): Compare typologica…

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