UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈliːf/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/lif/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(lēf )
leaf/lif/USA pronunciationn., pl.leaves/livz/USA pronunciationv. n.
Botany[countable] one of the usually green, flat parts at the end of a stem on a plant.
Library Science[countable] a sheet of paper or other writing material, one side of each sheet making up a page.
Metallurgy a thin sheet of metal:[uncountable]decorated with silver leaf.
Building a flat part of a table that slides, is hinged, or detaches from the main piece:[countable]the leaves of a dining room table.
v.
leaf through, [~ + object] to turn pages of:leafing through a book.
Idioms
Idiomstake a leaf out of or from someone's book, to use someone as an example:The company took a leaf out of Japan's book on how to mass-produce automobiles efficiently.
Idiomsturn over a new leaf, to begin new; make a fresh start.
leaf(lēf ),USA pronunciationn., pl.leaves(lēvz),USA pronunciationv. n.
Botanyone of the expanded, usually green organs borne by the stem of a plant.
Botanyany similar or corresponding lateral outgrowth of a stem.
Botanya petal:a rose leaf.
Botanyleaves collectively; foliage.
Library Science[Bibliog.]a unit generally comprising two printed, blank, or illustrated pages of a book, one on each side.
Metallurgya thin sheet of metal:silver leaf.
a lamina or layer.
Buildinga sliding, hinged, or detachable flat part, as of a door or tabletop.
Civil Engineeringa section of a drawbridge.
Mechanical Engineeringa single strip of metal in a leaf spring.
Mechanical Engineeringa tooth of a small gear wheel, as of a pinion.
See leaf fat.
Textilesshaft (def. 14).
Botany, Idiomsin leaf, covered with foliage; having leaves:the pale green tint of the woods newly in leaf.
Idiomstake a leaf out of or from someone's book, to follow someone's example; imitate:Some countries that took a leaf out of American industry's book are now doing very well for themselves.
Idiomsturn over a new leaf, to begin anew; make a fresh start:Every New Year's we make resolutions to turn over a new leaf.
v.i.
Botanyto put forth leaves.
to turn pages, esp. quickly (usually fol. by through):to leaf through a book.
v.t.
to thumb or turn, as the pages of a book or magazine, in a casual or cursory inspection of the contents.
bef. 900; Middle English leef, lef, Old English lēaf; cognate with Dutch loof, German Laub, Old Norse lauf, Gothic laufs
leaf′less, adj. leaf′like′, adj.
Leaf(lēf ),USA pronunciationn.Mun•ro(mun rō′),USA pronunciation 1905–76, U.S. author and illustrator of books for children.
the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants, usually consisting of a flat green blade attached to the stem directly or by a stalk
foliage collectively
in leaf ⇒ (of shrubs, trees, etc) having a full complement of foliage leaves
one of the sheets of paper in a book
a hinged, sliding, or detachable part, such as an extension to a table
metal in the form of a very thin flexible sheet: gold leaf
