leaf
♦ leaf /l'iːf/ (leaves leafs leafing leafed)
1 [N-COUNT] usu pl, also in/into N
The leaves of a tree or plant are the parts that are flat, thin, and usually green. Many trees and plants lose their leaves in the winter and grow new leaves in the spring.
In the garden, the leaves of the horse chestnut had already fallen...
The Japanese maple that stands across the drive had just come into leaf.
see also -leaved
2 [N-COUNT]
A leaf is one of the pieces of paper of which a book is made.
He flattened the wrappers and put them between the leaves of his book.
= page
3 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you take a leaf from someone's book you behave in the same way as them because you want to be like that person or as successful as they are.
Maybe we should take a leaf out of Branson's book. It's easy to see how he became a billionaire...
4 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you say that you are going to turn over a new leaf, you mean that you are going to start to behave in a better or more acceptable way.
He realized he was in the wrong and promised to turn over a new leaf.bay leaf (bay leaves)
[N-COUNT]
A bay leaf is a leaf of an evergreen tree that can be dried and used as a herb in cooking.fig leaf (fig leaves)
1 [N-COUNT]
A fig leaf is a large leaf which comes from the fig tree. A fig leaf is sometimes used in painting and sculpture to cover the genitals of a naked body.
2 [N-COUNT] usu with supp
People sometimes refer disapprovingly to something which is intended to hide or prevent an embarrassing situation as a fig leaf. (JOURNALISM)
This deal is little more than a fig leaf for the continued destruction of the landscape.gold leaf
[N-UNCOUNT]
Gold leaf is gold that has been beaten flat into very thin sheets and is used for decoration, for example to form the letters on the cover of a book.leaf mould
in AM, use leaf mold
[N-UNCOUNT]
Leaf mould is a substance consisting of decayed leaves that is used to improve the soil.leaf through
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n
If you leaf through something such as a book or magazine, you turn the pages without reading or looking at them very carefully.
Most patients derive enjoyment from leafing through old picture albums.tea leaf (tea leaves)
also tea-leaf
[N-COUNT] usu pl
Tea leaves are the small pieces of dried leaves that you use to make tea.
1 [N-COUNT] usu pl, also in/into N
The leaves of a tree or plant are the parts that are flat, thin, and usually green. Many trees and plants lose their leaves in the winter and grow new leaves in the spring.
In the garden, the leaves of the horse chestnut had already fallen...
The Japanese maple that stands across the drive had just come into leaf.
see also -leaved
2 [N-COUNT]
A leaf is one of the pieces of paper of which a book is made.
He flattened the wrappers and put them between the leaves of his book.
= page
3 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you take a leaf from someone's book you behave in the same way as them because you want to be like that person or as successful as they are.
Maybe we should take a leaf out of Branson's book. It's easy to see how he became a billionaire...
4 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you say that you are going to turn over a new leaf, you mean that you are going to start to behave in a better or more acceptable way.
He realized he was in the wrong and promised to turn over a new leaf.bay leaf (bay leaves)
[N-COUNT]
A bay leaf is a leaf of an evergreen tree that can be dried and used as a herb in cooking.fig leaf (fig leaves)
1 [N-COUNT]
A fig leaf is a large leaf which comes from the fig tree. A fig leaf is sometimes used in painting and sculpture to cover the genitals of a naked body.
2 [N-COUNT] usu with supp
People sometimes refer disapprovingly to something which is intended to hide or prevent an embarrassing situation as a fig leaf. (JOURNALISM)
This deal is little more than a fig leaf for the continued destruction of the landscape.gold leaf
[N-UNCOUNT]
Gold leaf is gold that has been beaten flat into very thin sheets and is used for decoration, for example to form the letters on the cover of a book.leaf mould
in AM, use leaf mold
[N-UNCOUNT]
Leaf mould is a substance consisting of decayed leaves that is used to improve the soil.leaf through
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n
If you leaf through something such as a book or magazine, you turn the pages without reading or looking at them very carefully.
Most patients derive enjoyment from leafing through old picture albums.tea leaf (tea leaves)
also tea-leaf
[N-COUNT] usu pl
Tea leaves are the small pieces of dried leaves that you use to make tea.