Main Entry:

¹leak

Pronunciation:

\ˈlēk\

Function:

verb

Etymology:

Middle English leken, liken, from or akin to Middle Dutch leken; akin to Old English hlec leaky, Old High German zelehhan, Old Norse leka to leak and probably to Old English leccan to moisten, Middle Irish legaid it melts

Date:

14th century

intransitive verb1 a: to enter or escape through an opening usually by a fault or mistake <fumes leak in> b: to let a substance or light in or out through an opening2 a: to become known despite efforts at concealment <confidential information leaked out> b: to be the source of an information leaktransitive verb1: to permit to enter or escape through or as if through a leak2: to give out (information) surreptitiously <leaked the story to the press>

— leak·er \ˈlē-kər\ noun