leak
gb/lˈik/ us/lˈik/
A2
English
~ 4100
szivárgás, tömítetlenség, szivárog, ereszt, kiszivárgás, kiszivárogtatás, kiszivárogtat
NOUN
A2
1
szivárgás
B1
Usage pattern:
a leak in [something]
The plumber found a leak in the kitchen pipe.
A vízvezeték-szerelő szivárgást talált a konyhai csőben.
A gas leak forced the building to be evacuated.
Gázszivárgás miatt ki kellett üríteni az épületet.
We need to fix the roof leak before it rains again.
Learner examples
There is a leak in the bathroom.
Szivárgás van a fürdőszobában.
The car has an oil leak.
Az autóból szivárog az olaj.
He fixed the leak in the roof.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'leak' with 'spill', but a spill is usually the liquid that has already come out, while a leak is the hole or crack causing it.
Meaning
hole letting fluid or gas out
Collocations
water leak
|oil leak
|gas leak
|fix a leak
|detect a leak
Synonyms
breach (More formal and general; can refer to any break or gap, not just for fluids or gases.)
Antonyms
seal (A closure that prevents the escape of fluids or gases.)
Themes
daily life
|maintenance
|science
|daily_life
|housing
Definition
A small hole or crack that lets liquid or gas out by accident.
An accidental hole, crack, or similar opening in a container, pipe, or structure through which liquid or gas escapes.
VERB
A2
2
Usage pattern:
[something] leaks [liquid/gas]
The old water bottle leaks when I tip it over.
A régi vizespalack szivárog, ha megdöntöm.
The tank is leaking oil into the sea.
A tartályból olaj szivárog a tengerbe.
My pen leaked ink all over my shirt.
Learner examples
The pipe leaks water.
A csőből szivárog a víz.
The roof leaks when it rains.
A tető beázik, amikor esik.
My bag leaks because it has a hole.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'leak' only for liquids, but it can also be for gases.
Meaning
let liquid or gas escape unintentionally
Collocations
leak water
|leak oil
|leak gas
|start to leak
Synonyms
drip (Refers specifically to slow drops of liquid falling, often from a leak.)
Antonyms
contain (To keep a substance inside without letting it escape.)
Themes
daily life
|maintenance
|science
|daily_life
|housing
Definition
To let liquid or gas out through a hole or crack by accident.
To allow liquid or gas to escape through a hole, crack, or faulty seal by accident.
NOUN
B1
3
kiszivárgás
B2
Usage pattern:
a leak of [information/documents]
The company is investigating the source of the data leak.
A vállalat az adatszivárgás forrását vizsgálja.
A leak from the government revealed the new policy plans.
Egy kormányzati kiszivárogtatás révén nyilvánosságra kerültek az új szakpolitikai tervek.
The journalist received an anonymous leak about corruption.
Learner examples
There was a leak of secret files.
Titkos iratok szivárogtak ki.
The email leak caused problems for the company.
Az e-mailek kiszivárgása problémákat okozott a vállalatnak.
He lost his job after a news leak.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with 'rumor', but a rumor is unverified talk, while a leak is usually based on actual information.
Meaning
unauthorized release of secret information
Collocations
information leak
|data leak
|security leak
|news leak
Synonyms
disclosure (More formal; does not always imply lack of permission.)
Antonyms
concealment (The act of keeping information secret.)
Themes
media
|politics
|business
|communication
|law
Definition
When secret information becomes known without permission.
The act or instance of making secret or private information known without permission.
VERB
B1
4
Usage pattern:
leak [information/documents] to [someone]
Someone leaked the report to the press.
Valaki kiszivárogtatta a jelentést a sajtónak.
The whistleblower leaked classified documents online.
A közérdekű bejelentő minősített dokumentumokat szivárogtatott ki az interneten.
They accused him of leaking company secrets.
Learner examples
He leaked the story to the newspaper.
Kiszivárogtatta a történetet az újságnak.
She leaked the plan to her friends.
Kiszivárogtatta a tervet a barátainak.
They leaked the email to the media.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'leak' with 'publish', but 'leak' implies it was done secretly and without permission.
Meaning
give out secret information without permission
Collocations
leak documents
|leak details
|leak news
Synonyms
reveal (General term; does not necessarily imply secrecy or lack of permission.)
Antonyms
withhold (To deliberately keep back information from others.)
Themes
media
|politics
|business
|communication
|law
Definition
To give secret information to people who should not have it.
To make secret or confidential information publicly known without authorization.
Grammar
Dictionary form
leak
IPA
GB/lˈik/
US/lˈik/
Syllables & stress
leak (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (leak)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: leak
- Plural: leaks
Verb
- Base: leak
- 3rd Person Singular: leaks
- Present Participle: leaking
- Past: leaked
Word family
Forms
leaks
noun
leaking
verb
leaked
verb
Core family
leaky
adjective
Related words
leakage
noun
leaker
noun
Negative and opposite forms
leakproof
adjective
Expressions
leak into
1/lˈik ˈɪntu/
phrasal verb
liquid or gas enters slowly through hole/crack unintentionally
When liquid or gas goes into something slowly through a hole by accident.
Examples
- Water leaked into the basement after heavy rain.
- Toxic fumes are leaking into the building.
leak out
1/lˈik ˈaʊt/
phrasal verb
secret information becomes known without permission
When secret information becomes known without permission.
Examples
- News of the merger leaked out before the official announcement.
- Details of the meeting have leaked out to the press.
spring a leak
1/spɹˈɪŋ ə lˈik/
idiom
suddenly get a hole letting fluid out
To suddenly get a hole that lets liquid or gas out.
Examples
- The boat sprang a leak during the storm.
- The old radiator has sprung a leak again.