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leap

Syllabification: (leap)
Pronunciation: /lēp/

Translate leap | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of leap

verb (past or past participle leaped /lēpt/ or leapt /lept/)

[no object]
  • jump or spring a long way, to a great height, or with great force:I leaped across the threshold figurativeFabia’s heart leapt excitedly
  • move quickly and suddenly:Polly leapt to her feet
  • [with object] jump across or over:a coyote leaped the fence
  • make a sudden rush to do something; act eagerly and suddenly:it was time for me to leap into action
  • (leap at) accept (an opportunity) eagerly:they leapt at the opportunity to combine fun with fund-raising
  • (of a price or figure) increase dramatically:sales leaped 40 percent during the Christmas season
  • (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 percent in two years
  • a sudden, abrupt change or transition:it doesn’t take a great leap of imagination to recognize that you have held an important leadership role
  • (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.

by (or in) leaps and bounds

with startlingly rapid progress:productivity improved in leaps and bounds

leap to the eye (or to mind)

be immediately apparent:one dire question leaped to our minds

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

leap in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of leap in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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