Leak (Noun)
Meaning 1
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".
Classification
Nouns denoting natural events.
Examples
- The mechanic had to fix the leak in the radiator before the car would run properly.
- The leak in the roof caused water to drip onto the floor during the storm.
- The company was fined for the oil leak that polluted the nearby river.
- The plumber was called to fix the leak under the kitchen sink.
- The astronauts had to repair the leak in the spacecraft's life support system before they could continue their mission.
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Meaning 2
Soft watery rot in fruits and vegetables caused by fungi.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- The soft, mushy texture of the overripe peach was a result of a leak caused by fungal infection.
- After a few days of storage, the apples began to show signs of leak, with soft brown spots appearing on the skin.
- The farmer inspected the crates of grapes for any signs of leak, knowing that it could spread quickly and ruin the entire shipment.
- The leak in the watermelon was so severe that it had become a pulpy, unappetizing mess.
- If not stored properly, the high water content in the berries made them prone to leak, which could render them unusable.
Meaning 3
A euphemism for urination; "he had to take a leak".
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
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Meaning 4
Unauthorized (especially deliberate) disclosure of confidential information.
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- The government official was fired after being accused of being the source of the leak that exposed the top-secret military operation.
- A former employee of the company was arrested for allegedly causing the leak that released sensitive business data to the public.
- The journalist was known for being able to obtain confidential information from her sources, and was suspected of being behind the leak that exposed the scandal.
- The company took swift action to plug the leak after discovering that one of their employees had been secretly sharing proprietary information with a competitor.
- The whistleblower who caused the leak by revealing the corruption in the organization was hailed as a hero by many in the community.
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Meaning 5
An accidental hole that allows something (fluid or light etc.) to enter or escape; "one of the tires developed a leak".
Classification
Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made).
Examples
- The plumber had to fix the leak in the pipe before the water damage got worse.
- The astronauts were in danger when a leak was discovered in the space station's airlock.
- The tire went flat because of a slow leak that had been undetected for weeks.
- The leak in the roof allowed rainwater to pour into the attic during the storm.
- The scientist detected a small leak in the laboratory's vacuum chamber.