n. [ Akin to D. lek leaky, a leak, G. leck, Icel. lekr leaky, Dan. læk leaky, a leak, Sw. läck; cf. AS. hlec full of cracks or leaky. Cf. Leak, v. ] 1. A crack, crevice, fissure, or hole which admits water or other fluid, or lets it escape; as, a leak in a roof; a leak in a boat; a leak in a gas pipe. “One leak will sink a ship.” Bunyan. [ 1913 Webster ]
2. The entrance or escape of a fluid through a crack, fissure, or other aperture; as, the leak gained on the ship's pumps. [ 1913 Webster ]
3. (Elec.) A loss of electricity through imperfect insulation; also, the point at which such loss occurs. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]
4. an act of urinating; -- used mostly in the phrase
take a leak, i. e. to urinate. [ vulgar ] [ PJC ]
5. The disclosure of information that is expected to be kept confidential; as, leaks by the White House staff infuriated Nixon; leaks by the Special Prosecutor were criticized as illegal. [ PJC ]
To spring a leak, to open or crack so as to let in water; to begin to let in water; as, the ship sprung a leak. [ 1913 Webster ]