Meaning & Definition of word "Leaf"

Leaf

/liːf/

noun:

  • 1. A leaf is a flattened structure of a plant that is typically green and is responsible for photosynthesis.
    • Example: The tree's vibrant green leaves shimmered in the sunlight.
  • 2. A leaf is also a part of a book or magazine, referring to a single sheet of paper.
    • Example: She turned the leaf to find the next chapter of her novel.
  • 3. In the context of paper, a leaf is one page of a book or a single sheet in a collection of sheets.
    • Example: The artist chose to create a collage from various leaves of old magazines.

verb:

  • 1. To leaf means to turn over the pages of a book quickly.
    • Example: He began to leaf through the magazine to find the article he liked.
  • 2. To leaf can also mean to produce leaves or foliage.
    • Example: The garden will leaf beautifully in the spring.

Etymology

Old English 'lēaf', from Proto-West Germanic 'lewa', akin to Dutch 'loof' and German 'Laub'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

turn over a new leaf:

to change one's ways and start fresh.

leaf through:

to quickly look through a book or magazine.

to be in the leaf:

to be abundant or flourishing.

to take a leaf out of someone's book:

to imitate someone else's actions or behavior.

Related Words

foliage:

The leaves of a plant, collectively.

petiole:

The stalk that attaches the leaf blade to the stem.

chlorophyll:

The green pigment found in the chloroplasts of plants, crucial for photosynthesis.

Slang Meanings of leaf

Meaning: A term used for marijuana, particularly when prepared for smoking.

Example Sentence: He rolled a joint with some fresh leaf.

Meaning: Used informally to refer to getting away or escaping.

Example Sentence: They decided to leaf for the weekend and head to the beach.