Word of the Day: Leak

leak

leak / lēk

noun

1. a crack or unintended hole through which something such as liquid, gas, or light, can escape or enter

Watch the little things; a small leak will sink a great ship.

Ben Franklin, 1706-1790

2. the act of liquid, gas, light, etc. entering or escaping through a crack or unintended hole, or an instance thereof

It’s amazing how people can get so excited about a rocket to the moon and not give a damn about smog, oil leaks, the devastation of the environment with pesticides, hunger, disease.

Cesar Chavez, 1927 – 1993

3. the loss of current from an electrical conductor, often the result of poor insulation

Given the high resistance of insulation, very little current should actually leak.

“Why controlling leakage current is important”, ‘Fluke’, www.fluke.com/en-us/learn/blog/insulation-testers/controlling-leakage-current, accessed October 20, 2023

4. the unauthorized dissemination of confidential information; to disclose secret information

Leaks and whispers are a daily routine of news-gathering in Washington.

William Greider, 1936 – 2019

5. (vulgar, slang) an instance of urinating

The best leaks always take place in the urinal.

John Cole, 1927 – 2013

verb

1. to disclose or allow the disclosure of secret information, without authorization or permission

I suspect there have been a number of conspiracies that never were described or leaked out.

Bob Woodward, 1943 –

2. to allow something to escape or enter through an unintended opening, such as a crack or hole

There is no use in carrying an umbrella if your shoes are leaking.

Irish Proverb

3. to escape through an unintended opening, such as a crack or hole

When you cut into the present the future leaks out.

William S. Burroughs, 1914 – 1997