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Leaf, Leaf out (lēf), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Leafed (lēft); p. pr. & vb. n. Leafing.] To shoot out leaves; to produce leaves; to leave; as, the trees leaf in May. Sir T. Browne.
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Leafage (?), n. Leaves, collectively; foliage.
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Leafcup (?), n. (Bot.) A coarse American composite weed (Polymnia Uvedalia).
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leaf cutter, leaf-cutter n. (Zoöl.) Any one of various species of wild bees of the genus Megachile, which cut rounded pieces from the edges of leaves, or the petals of flowers, to be used in the construction of their nests, which are made in holes and crevices, or in a leaf rolled up for the purpose. Among the common American species are Megachile brevis and Megachile centuncularis. Called also rose-cutting bee.
Syn. -- leaf-cutting bee, leaf-cutter bee.
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Leafed (?), a. Having (such) a leaf or (so many) leaves; -- used in composition; as, broad-leafed; four-leafed.
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Leafet (?), n. (Bot.) A leaflet.
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Leaf-footed (?), a. (Zoöl.) Having leaflike expansions on the legs; -- said of certain insects; as, the leaf-footed bug (Leptoglossus phyllopus).
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leaf-hopper n. A small leaping insect that sucks the juices of plants.
Syn. -- leafhopper.
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Leafiness (?), n. The state of being leafy.
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Leafless, a. Having no leaves or foliage; bearing no foliage. “Leafless groves.” Cowper. -- Leaflessness, n.
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Coloq. Leafless plants , plants having no foliage, though leaves may be present in the form of scales and bracts. See , n., 1 and 2.
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Leaflet (?), n. 1. A little leaf.
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2. (Bot.) One of the divisions of a compound leaf; a foliole.
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3. (Zoöl.) A leaflike organ or part; as, a leaflet of the gills of fishes.
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4. A printed sheet of paper, of one page, or one sheet folded over, containing an advertisement, tract, or other notice, and usually distributed for free or included in the package with a purchased item.
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Leaf-nosed (?), n. (Zoöl.) Having a leaflike membrane on the nose; -- said of certain bats, esp. of the genera Phyllostoma and Rhinonycteris. See .
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leafroller, leaf roller n. (Zoöl.) The larva of any tortricid moth which makes a nest by rolling up the leaves of plants and tying the leaves with spun silk; aalso, the moth itself. See .
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Leafstalk (?), n. (Bot.) The stalk or petiole which supports a leaf.
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Leafy (?), a. [Compar. Leafier (?); superl. Leafiest.] 1. Full of leaves; abounding in leaves; as, the leafy forest. “The leafy month of June.” Coleridge.
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2. Consisting of leaves. “A leafy bed.” Byron.
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League (lēg), n. [Cf. OE. legue, lieue, a measure of length, F. lieue, Pr. lega, legua, It. & LL. lega, Sp. legua, Pg. legoa, legua; all fr. LL. leuca, of Celtic origin: cf. Arm. leo, lev (perh. from French), Ir. leige (perh. from English); also Ir. & Gael. leac a flag, a broad, flat stone, W. llech, -- such stones having perh. served as a sort of milestone (cf. ).] 1. A measure of length or distance, varying in different countries from about 2.4 to 4.6 English statute miles of 5,280 feet each, and used (as a land measure) chiefly on the continent of Europe, and in the Spanish parts of America. The marine league of England and the United States is equal to three marine, or geographical, miles of 6080 feet each.
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☞ The English land league is equal to three English statute miles. The Spanish and French leagues vary in each country according to usage and the kind of measurement to which they are applied. The Dutch and German leagues contain about four geographical miles, or about 4.6 English statute miles.
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2. A stone erected near a public road to mark the distance of a league. [Obs.]
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League (lēg), n. [F. ligue, LL. liga, fr. L. ligare to bind; cf. Sp. liga. Cf. a confederate, .] 1. An alliance or combination of two or more nations, parties, organizations, or persons, for the accomplishment of a purpose which requires a continued course of action, as for mutual defense, or for furtherance of commercial, religious, or political interests, etc.
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And let there be
'Twixt us and them no league, nor amity. Denham.
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2. Specifically: (Sports) An association of sports teams that establishes rules of play, decides questions of membership in the league, and organizes matches between the member teams. In some cases a sports league is called a conference, as in the National Football Conference.
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☞ A league may be offensive or defensive, or both; offensive, when the parties agree to unite in attacking a common enemy; defensive, when they agree to a mutual defense of each other against an enemy.
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Coloq. The Holy League , an alliance of Roman Catholics formed in 1576 by influence of the Duke of Guise for the exclusion of Protestants from the throne of France. -- Coloq. Solemn League and Covenant . See ,2. -- Coloq. The land league , an association, organized in Dublin in 1879, to promote the interests of the Irish tenantry, its avowed objects being to secure fixity of tenure, fair rent, and free sale of the tenants' interest. It was declared illegal by Parliament, but vigorous prosecutions have failed to suppress it.

Syn. -- Alliance; confederacy; confederation; coalition; combination; compact; coöperation.
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League (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Leagued (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Leaguing (?).] [Cf. F. se liguer. See 2d .] To unite in a league or confederacy; to combine for mutual support; to confederate. South.
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League, v. t. To join in a league; to cause to combine for a joint purpose; to combine; to unite; as, common interests will league heterogeneous elements.
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Leaguer, n. [D. leger camp, bed, couch, lair. See , and cf. .] 1. The camp of a besieging army; a camp in general. b. Jonson.
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2. A siege or beleaguering. [R.] Sir W. Scott.
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Leaguer, v. t. To besiege; to beleaguer. [Obs.]
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Leaguerer (?), n. A besieger. [R.] J. Webster.
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Leak (lēk), n. [Akin to D. lek leaky, a leak, G. leck, Icel. lekr leaky, Dan. læk leaky, a leak, Sw. läck; cf. AS. hlec full of cracks or leaky. Cf. , 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.
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2. The entrance or escape of a fluid through a crack, fissure, or other aperture; as, the leak gained on the ship's pumps.
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3. (Elec.) A loss of electricity through imperfect insulation; also, the point at which such loss occurs.
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4. an act of urinating; -- used mostly in the phrase Coloq. take a leak , i. e. to urinate. [vulgar]
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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.
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Coloq. 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.
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Leak, a. Leaky. [Obs.] Spenser.
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Leak, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Leaked (lēkt); p. pr. & vb. n. Leaking.] [Akin to D. lekken, G. lecken, lechen, Icel. leka, Dan. lække, Sw. läcka, AS. leccan to wet, moisten. See , n.] 1. To let water or other fluid in or out through a hole, crevice, etc.; as, the cask leaks; the roof leaks; the boat leaks.
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2. To enter or escape, as a fluid, through a hole, crevice, etc.; to pass gradually into, or out of, something; -- usually with in or out.
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Coloq. To leak out , to be divulged gradually or clandestinely; to become public; as, the facts leaked out.
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Leakage (�), n. [Cf. D. lekkage, for sense 1.] 1. A leaking; also, the quantity that enters or issues by leaking.
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2. (Com.) An allowance of a certain rate per cent for the leaking of casks, or waste of liquors by leaking.
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3. (Elec.) A ; also; the quantity of electricity thus wasted.
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Leakiness (?), n. The quality of being leaky.
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leaking adj. having liquid seeping in or out through openings; leaky.
Syn. -- leaky.
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leakproof adj. having no leaks.
Syn. -- watertight.
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Leaky (?), a. [Compar. Leakier (?); superl. Leakiest.] 1. Permitting water or other fluid to leak in or out; as, a leaky roof or cask; a leaky faucet.
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2. Apt to disclose secrets; tattling; not close. [Colloq.]
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3. (Genetics) Retaining some function; not completely inactivating the gene; as, substitution mutations are sometimes leaky; -- of mutations.
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Leal (?), a. [OE. leial, another form of loial, F. loyal. See .] Faithful; loyal; true.
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All men true and leal, all women pure. Tennyson.
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Coloq. Land of the leal , the place of the faithful; heaven.
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Leam (?), n. & v. i. See . [Obs.] Holland.
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Leam, n. [See , .] A cord or strap for leading a dog. Sir W. Scott.
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Leamer (?), n. [F. limier, OF. liemier, fr. L. ligamen band, bandage. See .] A dog held by a leam.
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Lean (lēn), v. t. [Icel. leyna; akin to G. läugnen to deny, AS. lȳgnian, also E. lie to speak falsely.] To conceal. [Obs.] Ray.
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Lean (lēn), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Leaned (lēnd), sometimes Leant (lĕnt); p. pr. & vb. n. Leaning.] [OE. lenen, AS. hlinian, hleonian, v. i.; akin to OS. hlinōn, D. leunen, OHG. hlinēn, linēn, G. lehnen, L. inclinare, Gr. klinein, L. clivus hill, slope. √40. Cf. , , , .] 1. To incline, deviate, or bend, from a vertical position; to be in a position thus inclining or deviating; as, she leaned out at the window; a leaning column. “He leant forward.” Dickens.
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2. To incline in opinion or desire; to conform in conduct; -- with to, toward, etc.
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They delight rather to lean to their old customs. Spenser.
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3. To rest or rely, for support, comfort, and the like; -- with on, upon, or against.
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He leaned not on his fathers but himself. Tennyson.
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Lean, v. t. [From , v. i.; AS. hlǣnan, v. t., fr. hleonian, hlinian, v. i.] To cause to lean; to incline; to support or rest. Mrs. Browning.
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His fainting limbs against an oak he leant. Dryden.
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Lean (lēn), a. [Compar. Leaner (lēnẽr); superl. Leanest.] [OE. lene, AS. hlǣne; prob. akin to E. lean to incline. See , v. i. ] 1. Wanting flesh; destitute of or deficient in fat; slim; not plump; slender; meager; thin; lank; as, a lean body; a lean cattle.
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2. Wanting fullness, richness, sufficiency, or productiveness; deficient in quality or contents; slender; scant; barren; bare; mean; -- used literally and figuratively; as, the lean harvest; a lean purse; a lean discourse; lean wages. “No lean wardrobe.” Shak.
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Their lean and flashy songs. Milton.
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What the land is, whether it be fat or lean. Num. xiii. 20.
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Out of my lean and low ability
I'll lend you something. Shak.
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3. (Typog.) Of a character which prevents the compositor from earning the usual wages; -- opposed to fat; as, lean copy, matter, or type.
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Syn. -- slender; spare; thin; meager; lank; skinny; gaunt.
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Lean (?), n. 1. That part of flesh which consists principally of muscle without the fat.
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The fat was so white and the lean was so ruddy. Goldsmith.
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2. (Typog.) Unremunerative copy or work.
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Lean-faced (?), a. 1. Having a thin face.
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2. (Typog.) slender or narrow; -- said of type the letters of which have thin lines, or are unusually narrow in proportion to their height. W. Savage.
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Leaning, n. The act, or state, of inclining; inclination; tendency; as, a leaning towards Calvinism.
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Leanly, adv. Meagerly; without fat or plumpness.
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Leanness, n. [AS. hlǣnnes.] The condition or quality of being lean.
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Lean-to (?), a. (Arch.) Having only one slope or pitch; -- said of a roof.
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Lean-to (?), n. 1. (Arch.) A shed or slight building placed against the wall of a larger structure and having a single-pitched roof; -- called also penthouse, and to-fall.
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The outer circuit was covered as a lean-to, all round this inner apartment. De Foe.
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2. A crude, usually temporary shelter comprising a lean-to roof braced against any convenient support, as a wall, a tree or a pole. The roof may extend all the way to the ground.
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Lean-witted (?), a. Having but little sense or shrewdness.
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Leany (?), a. Lean. [Obs.] Spenser.
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Leap (?), n. [AS. leáp.] 1. A basket. [Obs.] Wyclif.
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2. A weel or wicker trap for fish. [Prov. Eng.]
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Leap (lēp), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Leaped (lēpt; 277), rarely Leapt (lēpt or lĕpt); p. pr. & vb. n. Leaping.] [OE. lepen, leapen, AS. hleápan to leap, jump, run; akin to OS. āhlōpan, OFries. hlapa, D. loopen, G. laufen, OHG. louffan, hlauffan, Icel. hlaupa, Sw. löpa, Dan. löbe, Goth. ushlaupan. Cf. , , , to loiter.] 1. To spring clear of the ground, with the feet; to jump; to vault; as, a man leaps over a fence, or leaps upon a horse. Bacon.
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Leap in with me into this angry flood. Shak.
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2. To spring or move suddenly, as by a jump or by jumps; to bound; to move swiftly. Also Fig.
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My heart leaps up when I behold
A rainbow in the sky. Wordsworth.
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Leap, v. t. 1. To pass over by a leap or jump; as, to leap a wall, or a ditch.
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2. To copulate with (a female beast); to cover.
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3. To cause to leap; as, to leap a horse across a ditch.
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Leap, n. 1. The act of leaping, or the space passed by leaping; a jump; a spring; a bound.
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Wickedness comes on by degrees, . . . and sudden leaps from one extreme to another are unnatural. L'Estrange.
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Changes of tone may proceed either by leaps or glides. H. Sweet.
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2. Copulation with, or coverture of, a female beast.
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3. (Mining) A fault.
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4. (Mus.) A passing from one note to another by an interval, especially by a long one, or by one including several other and intermediate intervals.
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Leaper (?), n. [AS. hleápere.] One who, or that which, leaps.
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Leaper, n. [See 1st .] A kind of hooked instrument for untwisting old cordage.
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Leapfrog (?), n. A play among boys, in which one stoops down and another leaps over him by placing his hands on the shoulders of the former.
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Leapful (?), n. [See 1st .] A basketful. [Obs.]
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Leaping, a. & n. from , to jump.
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Coloq. Leaping house , a brothel. [Obs.] Shak. -- Coloq. Leaping pole , a pole used in some games of leaping. -- Coloq. Leaping spider (Zoöl.), a jumping spider; one of the Saltigradæ.
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Leapingly, adv. By leaps.
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Leap year (?) n.Bissextile; a year containing 366 days; every fourth year which leaps over a day more than a common year, giving to February twenty-nine days. See .
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☞ Every year whose number is divisible by four without a remainder is a leap year, excepting the full centuries, which, to be leap years, must be divisible by 400 without a remainder. If not so divisible they are common years. 1900, therefore, is not a leap year, but 2000 is.
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Lear (?), v. t. To learn. See , to learn. [Obs.]
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Lear, n. Lore; lesson. [Obs.] Spenser.
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Lear, a. See , a. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
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Lear, n. An annealing oven. See , n.
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Learn (lẽrn), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Learned (lẽrnd), or Learnt (lẽrnt); p. pr. & vb. n. Learning.] [OE. lernen, leornen, AS. leornian; akin to OS. linōn, for lirnōn, OHG. lirnēn, lernēn, G. lernen, fr. the root of AS. lǣran to teach, OS. lērian, OHG. lēran, G. lehren, Goth. laisjan, also Goth lais I know, leis acquainted (in comp.); all prob. from a root meaning, to go, go over, and hence, to learn; cf. AS. leoran to go. Cf. a mold of the foot, .] 1. To gain knowledge or information of; to ascertain by inquiry, study, or investigation; to receive instruction concerning; to fix in the mind; to acquire understanding of, or skill; as, to learn the way; to learn a lesson; to learn dancing; to learn to skate; to learn the violin; to learn the truth about something. “Learn to do well.” Is. i. 17.
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Now learn a parable of the fig tree. Matt. xxiv. 32.
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2. To communicate knowledge to; to teach. [Obs.]
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Hast thou not learned me how
To make perfumes ? Shak.
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☞ Learn formerly had also the sense of teach, in accordance with the analogy of the French and other languages, and hence we find it with this sense in Shakespeare, Spenser, and other old writers. This usage has now passed away. To learn is to receive instruction, and to teach is to give instruction. He who is taught learns, not he who teaches.
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Learn, v. i. To acquire knowledge or skill; to make progress in acquiring knowledge or skill; to receive information or instruction; as, this child learns quickly.
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Take my yoke upon you and learn of me. Matt. xi. 29.
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Coloq. To learn by heart . See By heart, under . -- Coloq. To learn by rote , to memorize by repetition without exercise of the understanding.
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