Library / English Dictionary

LEAF

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected form: leaves   

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Hinged or detachable flat section (as of a table or door)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("leaf" is a kind of...):

section; segment (one of several parts or pieces that fit with others to constitute a whole object)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "leaf"):

drop-leaf (a hinged leaf on a table that can be raised and supported by a bracket)

Holonyms ("leaf" is a part of...):

dinner table (the dining table where dinner is served and eaten)

Derivation:

leaflet (a thin triangular flap of a heart valve)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A sheet of any written or printed material (especially in a manuscript or book)

Synonyms:

folio; leaf

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("leaf" is a kind of...):

piece of paper; sheet; sheet of paper (paper used for writing or printing)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "leaf"):

flyleaf (a blank leaf in the front or back of a book)

interleaf (a blank leaf inserted between the leaves of a book)

page (one side of one leaf (of a book or magazine or newspaper or letter etc.) or the written or pictorial matter it contains)

Holonyms ("leaf" is a part of...):

black and white; written communication; written language (communication by means of written symbols (either printed or handwritten))

Derivation:

leaf (turn over pages)

leaf (look through a book or other written material)

leaflet (a small book usually having a paper cover)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants

Synonyms:

foliage; leaf; leafage

Classified under:

Nouns denoting plants

Hypernyms ("leaf" is a kind of...):

plant organ (a functional and structural unit of a plant or fungus)

Meronyms (parts of "leaf"):

lobe ((botany) a part into which a leaf is divided)

venation ((botany) the arrangement of veins in a leaf)

leaf form; leaf shape (any of the various shape that leaves of plants can assume)

Meronyms (substance of "leaf"):

parenchyma (the primary tissue of higher plants composed of thin-walled cells that remain capable of cell division even when mature; constitutes the greater part of leaves, roots, the pulp of fruits, and the pith of stems)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "leaf"):

simple leaf (a leaf that is not divided into parts)

compound leaf (a leaf composed of a number of leaflets on a common stalk)

entire leaf (a leaf having a smooth margin without notches or indentations)

crenate leaf (a leaf having a scalloped margin)

serrate leaf (a leaf having a margin notched like a saw with teeth pointing toward the apex)

dentate leaf (a leaf having a toothed margin)

emarginate leaf (a leaf having a notch at the apex)

erose leaf (a leaf having a jagged margin as though gnawed)

runcinate leaf (a leaf having incised margins with the lobes or teeth curved toward the base; as a dandelion leaf)

lobed leaf (a leaf having deeply indented margins)

parallel-veined leaf (a leaf whose veins run in parallel from the stem)

parted leaf (a leaf having margins incised almost to the base so as to create distinct divisions or lobes)

prickly-edged leaf (a leaf having prickly margins)

rosette (a cluster of leaves growing in crowded circles from a common center or crown (usually at or close to the ground))

fig leaf (a leaf from a fig tree)

betel; betel leaf (a leaf of a vine from the betel pepper)

scale; scale leaf (a specialized leaf or bract that protects a bud or catkin)

pad (the large floating leaf of an aquatic plant (as the water lily))

frond (compound leaf of a fern or palm or cycad)

leaflet (part of a compound leaf)

greenery; verdure (green foliage)

amplexicaul leaf (a leaf with its base clasping the stem)

blade; leaf blade (especially a leaf of grass or the broad portion of a leaf as distinct from the petiole)

sporophyl; sporophyll (leaf in ferns and mosses that bears the sporangia)

pitcher ((botany) a leaf that that is modified in such a way as to resemble a pitcher or ewer)

dandelion green (the foliage of the dandelion plant)

floral leaf (a modified leaf that is part of a flower)

cataphyll (a reduced or scarcely developed leaf at the start of a plant's life (i.e., cotyledons) or in the early stages of leaf development)

Derivation:

leaf (produce leaves, of plants)

leaflet (part of a compound leaf)

leafy (having or covered with leaves)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Produce leaves, of plants

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Hypernyms (to "leaf" is one way to...):

acquire; develop; get; grow; produce (come to have or undergo a change of (physical features and attributes))

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

leaf; leafage (the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Turn over pages

Example:

leaf a manuscript

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "leaf" is one way to...):

turn; turn over (cause to move around a center so as to show another side of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

leaf (a sheet of any written or printed material (especially in a manuscript or book))

Sense 3

Meaning:

Look through a book or other written material

Example:

She leafed through the volume

Synonyms:

flick; flip; leaf; riff; riffle; thumb

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Hypernyms (to "leaf" is one way to...):

peruse (examine or consider with attention and in detail)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

leaf (a sheet of any written or printed material (especially in a manuscript or book))

Credits

 Context examples: 

"I do," and Mrs. March smiled her wise smile, as Jo turned back the leaves to read what Amy said of Laurie.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

One side of one leaf (of a book or magazine or newspaper or letter etc.) or the written or pictorial matter it contains.

(Page, NCI Thesaurus)

An undeveloped shoot from which embryonic leaves or flower parts arise.

(Bud, Food and Drug Administration)

A type of medicine that uses roots, stems, leaves, flowers, or seeds of plants to improve health, prevent disease, and treat illness.

(Botanical Therapy, NCI Dictionary)

The essential oil from the leaves of Peumus boldus.

(Boldo Leaf Oil, NCI Thesaurus)

The essential oil from leaves of Agathosma betulina.

(Agathosma Betulina Leaf Oil, NCI Thesaurus)

Its leaves are spade-shaped with round-pointed tips and purple-red veins and petioles.

(World's First True Red Spinach Variety Released, U.S. Department of Agriculture)

Saturn will remain in Capricorn this year until December 16, 2020, and after he leaves, you will not see Saturn in Capricorn again until 2047.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

The road was still paved with yellow brick, but these were much covered by dried branches and dead leaves from the trees, and the walking was not at all good.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

This makes it even more remarkable that we have found vaterite in such large quantities on the surface of plant leaves.

(Rare mineral discovered in plants for first time, University of Cambridge)