leap

 
Pronunciation: /liːp/

verb (past or past participle leaped /liːpt, lɛpt/ or leapt /lɛpt/)

[no object, with adverbial]
  • 1jump or spring a long way, to a great height, or with great force: he leapt on to the parapet figurative Fabia’s heart leapt excitedly
  • [with object] jump across: Peter leapt the last few stairs
  • 2move quickly and suddenly: Polly leapt to her feet
  • make a sudden rush to do something; act eagerly and suddenly: everybody leapt into action
  • (leap at) accept (an opportunity) eagerly: they leapt at the opportunity to combine fun with fund-raising
  • (of a price, amount, etc.) increase dramatically: sales leapt by a third last year
  • (leap out) (especially of writing) be conspicuous; stand out: amid the notes, a couple of items leap out

noun

  • a forceful jump or quick movement: she came downstairs in a series of flying leaps
  • a dramatic increase in price, amount, etc.: a leap of 75 per cent in two years
  • a sudden abrupt change or transition: a leap of faith
  • [in place names] a thing to be leaped over or from: Lover’s Leap

Phrases

a leap in the dark

a daring step or enterprise whose consequences are unpredictable: I had taken quite a step—a leap in the dark, in fact

by (or in) leaps and bounds

with startlingly rapid progress: productivity improved in leaps and bounds

leap to the eye

(especially of writing) be immediately apparent: the word immediately leapt to the eye

leap to conclusions

see conclusion.

Derivatives

leaper

noun

Origin:

Old English hlēapan (verb), hlȳp (noun), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch lopen, German laufen (verb), and Dutch loop, German Lauf (noun), all meaning 'run', also to lope