To spring a leak

To spring a leak
Leak Leak (l[=e]k), n. [Akin to D. lek leaky, a leak, G. leck, Icel. lekr leaky, Dan. l[ae]k leaky, a leak, Sw. l["a]ck; cf. AS. hlec full of cracks or leaky. Cf. {Leak}, v.] 1. A crack, crevice, fissure, or hole which admits water or other fluid, or lets it escape; as, a leak in a roof; a leak in a boat; a leak in a gas pipe. ``One leak will sink a ship.'' --Bunyan. [1913 Webster]

2. The entrance or escape of a fluid through a crack, fissure, or other aperture; as, the leak gained on the ship's pumps. [1913 Webster]

3. (Elec.) A loss of electricity through imperfect insulation; also, the point at which such loss occurs. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

4. an act of urinating; -- used mostly in the phrase

{take a leak}, i. e. to urinate. [vulgar] [PJC]

5. The disclosure of information that is expected to be kept confidential; as, leaks by the White House staff infuriated Nixon; leaks by the Special Prosecutor were criticized as illegal. [PJC]

{To spring a leak}, to open or crack so as to let in water; to begin to let in water; as, the ship sprung a leak. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • spring a leak — To become leaky • • • Main Entry: ↑leak spring a leak To begin to leak • • • Main Entry: ↑spring * * * spring a leak phrase if a container or a boat springs a leak , it cracks or breaks so that water or other liquid can get in or out …   Useful english dictionary

  • spring a leak — ► spring a leak (of a boat or container) develop a leak. [ORIGIN: originally in nautical use, referring to timbers springing out of position.] Main Entry: ↑spring …   English terms dictionary

  • Spring a Leak — Infobox Album Name = Spring A Leak Type = compilation Artist = The Lucksmiths Released = 2007 Recorded = Genre = Indie pop Length = Label = Lost Lonesome Producer = Reviews = *Pitchfork Media (7.8/10) [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record …   Wikipedia

  • To spring a leak — Spring Spring (spr[i^]ng), v. t. 1. To cause to spring up; to start or rouse, as game; to cause to rise from the earth, or from a covert; as, to spring a pheasant. [1913 Webster] 2. To produce or disclose suddenly or unexpectedly; as, to spring a …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • spring a leak — (of a boat or container) develop a leak. → spring …   English new terms dictionary

  • spring a leak — {v. phr.} 1. To develop a hole (said of boats) through which water can enter, threatening the boat to sink. * /When our small boat sprang a leak, we rapidly returned to shore to fix it./ 2. To be threatened by some oncoming danger. * /Our firm… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • spring a leak — {v. phr.} 1. To develop a hole (said of boats) through which water can enter, threatening the boat to sink. * /When our small boat sprang a leak, we rapidly returned to shore to fix it./ 2. To be threatened by some oncoming danger. * /Our firm… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • spring a leak — (Roget s IV) v. Syn. start leaking, develop a leak, be perforated, be punctured; see leak 2 …   English dictionary for students

  • spring\ a\ leak — v. phr. 1. To develop a hole (said of boats) through which water can enter, threatening the boat to sink. When our small boat sprang a leak, we rapidly returned to shore to fix it. 2. To be threatened by some oncoming danger. Our firm sprang a… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • spring a leak — beginning of a leak, start of a dripping …   English contemporary dictionary

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