leap Meaning & Definition
What Does Leap Mean?
Leap is a verb that means To jump. It is also used to mean To pass over by a leap or jump. As a noun, it means The act of leaping or jumping. As an adjective, it means Intercalary, bissextile.
Word Facts for Leap
| Part of speech | verb, noun, adjective |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈliːp/ |
| Synonyms | spring, bounce and jump |
| Plural | leaps |
| Verb forms | leaps, leaping, leaped |
Leap Definition (Verb)
- To jump.
- To pass over by a leap or jump.
to leap a wall or a ditch
- To copulate with (a female beast)
- To copulate with (a human)
- To cause to leap.
to leap a horse across a ditch
Leap as a Noun
- The act of leaping or jumping.
He made a leap across the river.
- The distance traversed by a leap or jump.
- A group of leopards.
- A significant move forward.
- A large step in reasoning, often one that is not justified by the facts.
It's quite a leap to claim that those cloud formations are evidence of UFOs.
- A fault.
- Copulation (by a male animal) with a female one.
- A passing from one note to another by an interval, especially by a long one, or by one including several other intermediate intervals.
- A small cataract over which fish attempt to jump; a salmon ladder.
Leap as an Adjective
- Intercalary, bissextile.
Noun
- A trap or snare for fish, made from twigs; a weely.
- Half a bushel.
Noun
- Copulation with, or coverture of, a female beast.
- A salmon ladder.
Verb
- To copulate with (a female beast); to cover.
Adjective
- (calendar) Intercalary, bissextile.
Noun
- A basket.
Synonyms of Leap
Leap synonyms and antonyms →Leap in a Sentence
to leap a wall or a ditch
to leap a horse across a ditch
He made a leap across the river.
It's quite a leap to claim that those cloud formations are evidence of UFOs.
Word Forms & Grammar
leap (third-person singular simple present leaps, present participle leaping, simple past leaped or leapt or (archaic) lept or (obsolete) lope, past participle leaped or leapt or (archaic) lept or (obsolete) lope or (obsolete) lopen)
leap (plural leaps)
leap (not comparable)
Words That Rhyme With Leap
Origin of Leap
Origin 1: From Middle English lepen, from Old English hlēapan, from Proto-West Germanic *hlaupan, from Proto-Germanic *hlaupaną. Doublet of lope, lowp, elope, gallop, galop, interlope, and loop.
Origin 2: Cognate with North Frisian laap, luup, luupe (“to jog, run, walk”), Saterland Frisian lope, loope (“to run”), West Frisian ljeppe (“to jump”), Dutch lopen (“to run; to walk”), German laufen (“to run; to walk”), Limburgish loupe (“to jog, run, walk”), Low German lopen, loupen (“to run”), Luxembourgish lafen (“to run”), Vilamovian łaojfa (“to run”), Danish løbe (“to run”), Faroese leypa (“to jump”), Icelandic hlaupa (“to run; to jump”), Norwegian Bokmål løpe (“to run”), Norwegian Nynorsk laupa, laupe, løpa, løpe (“to run”), Swedish löpa (“to run”), from Proto-Indo-European *klewb- (“to spring, stumble”) (compare Lithuanian šlùbti ‘to become lame’, klùbti ‘to stumble’).
Origin 3: From Middle English lep, from Old English lēap (“basket”), from Proto-West Germanic *laup, from Proto-Germanic *laupaz (“container, basket”). Cognate with Icelandic laupur (“basket”).
Frequently Asked Questions About Leap
Is leap a verb or a noun?
Leap is mainly used as a verb, but it can also be used as a noun and an adjective.
What is another word for leap?
You can replace leap with words such as spring, bounce and jump. See the full list of leap synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of leap?
The plural of leap is leaps.
What is the past tense of leap?
The past tense of leap is leaped. The present participle is leaping.