Kilo Lingo

/liːk/

Line drawing of leak
Coloured illustration of leak
#2470 of 5,000 Core 5000

Translation

A small hole or crack that lets liquid or gas escape; when secret information gets out, that is also a leak.

Word origin

From an old Germanic root meaning to drip or to let water through.

Origin
Germanic
Root
lek

Other proposed origins

  • Usually traced to Old Norse leka, meaning to drip. (leka)
  • Some accounts derive it from Middle Dutch leken, a word with the same meaning. (leken)

Examples

, .

A leak lets water in or out through a small hole.

plumber .

Pipes often leak where two parts join.

.

"Leak" is also a verb; here it means to let secret information out.

Used in

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This word is part of lesson 50.