leak

I. 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 verb 1. 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 opening 2. a. to become known despite efforts at concealment <

confidential information leaked out

> b. to be the source of an information leak transitive verb 1. to permit to enter or escape through or as if through a leak 2. to give out (information) surreptitiously <

leaked the story to the press

> • leaker noun II. noun Date: 15th century 1. a. a crack or hole that usually by mistake admits or lets escape b. something that permits the admission or escape of something else usually with prejudicial effect 2. the act, process, or an instance of leaking 3. sometimes vulgar an act of urinating — used especially in the phrase take a leak • leakproof adjective