leap
♦ leap /l'iːp/ (leaps leaping leaped or leapt)
British English usually uses the form leapt as the past tense and past participle. American English usually uses leaped.
1 [VERB] V prep/adv, V
If you leap, you jump high in the air or jump a long distance.
He had leapt from a window in the building and escaped...
The man threw his arms out as he leapt.
= jump
[N-COUNT]
Leap is also a noun.
Smith took Britain's fifth medal of the championships with a leap of 2.37 metres.
2 [VERB] V prep/adv, V prep/adv
If you leap somewhere, you move there suddenly and quickly.
The two men leaped into the jeep and roared off...
With a terrible howl, he leapt forward and threw himself into the water.
3 [VERB] V adv/prep
If a vehicle leaps somewhere, it moves there in a short sudden movement.
The car leapt forward.
4 [N-COUNT] oft N in n
A leap is a large and important change, increase, or advance. (JOURNALISM)
The result has been a giant leap in productivity.
...the leap in the unemployed from 35,000 to 75,000...
Contemporary art has taken a huge leap forward in the last five or six years.
5 [VERB] V prep
If you leap to a particular place or position, you make a large and important change, increase, or advance.
Warwicks leap to third in the table, 31 points behind leaders Essex.
6 [VERB] V at n
If you leap at a chance or opportunity, you accept it quickly and eagerly.
The post of principal of the theatre school became vacant and he leapt at the chance.
= jump
7 [PHRASE] usu PHR after v
You can use in leaps and bounds or by leaps and bounds to emphasize that someone or something is improving or increasing quickly and greatly.
He's improved in leaps and bounds this season...
The total number of species on the planet appears to be growing by leaps and bounds.leap of faith (leaps of faith)
[N-COUNT] a N in sing
If you take a leap of faith, you do something even though you are not sure it is right or will succeed.
Take a leap of faith and trust them.leap year (leap years)
[N-COUNT]
A leap year is a year which has 366 days. The extra day is the 29th February. There is a leap year every four years.
British English usually uses the form leapt as the past tense and past participle. American English usually uses leaped.
1 [VERB] V prep/adv, V
If you leap, you jump high in the air or jump a long distance.
He had leapt from a window in the building and escaped...
The man threw his arms out as he leapt.
= jump
[N-COUNT]
Leap is also a noun.
Smith took Britain's fifth medal of the championships with a leap of 2.37 metres.
2 [VERB] V prep/adv, V prep/adv
If you leap somewhere, you move there suddenly and quickly.
The two men leaped into the jeep and roared off...
With a terrible howl, he leapt forward and threw himself into the water.
3 [VERB] V adv/prep
If a vehicle leaps somewhere, it moves there in a short sudden movement.
The car leapt forward.
4 [N-COUNT] oft N in n
A leap is a large and important change, increase, or advance. (JOURNALISM)
The result has been a giant leap in productivity.
...the leap in the unemployed from 35,000 to 75,000...
Contemporary art has taken a huge leap forward in the last five or six years.
5 [VERB] V prep
If you leap to a particular place or position, you make a large and important change, increase, or advance.
Warwicks leap to third in the table, 31 points behind leaders Essex.
6 [VERB] V at n
If you leap at a chance or opportunity, you accept it quickly and eagerly.
The post of principal of the theatre school became vacant and he leapt at the chance.
= jump
7 [PHRASE] usu PHR after v
You can use in leaps and bounds or by leaps and bounds to emphasize that someone or something is improving or increasing quickly and greatly.
He's improved in leaps and bounds this season...
The total number of species on the planet appears to be growing by leaps and bounds.leap of faith (leaps of faith)
[N-COUNT] a N in sing
If you take a leap of faith, you do something even though you are not sure it is right or will succeed.
Take a leap of faith and trust them.leap year (leap years)
[N-COUNT]
A leap year is a year which has 366 days. The extra day is the 29th February. There is a leap year every four years.