leaf

noun, often attributive

\ ˈlēf

plural leaves\ ˈlēvz

\ also leafs\ ˈlēfs

Definition of leaf

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a(1) : a lateral (see lateral entry 1 sense 2) outgrowth from a plant stem that is typically a flattened expanded variably shaped greenish organ, constitutes a unit of the foliage, and functions primarily in food manufacture by photosynthesis

(2) : a modified leaf (such as a bract or sepal) primarily engaged in functions other than food manufacture

b(1) : foliage trees in full leaf

(2) : the leaves of a plant as an article of commerce

2 : something suggestive of a leaf: such as

a : a part of a book or folded sheet containing a page on each side

b(1) : a part (as of window shutters, folding doors, or gates) that slides or is hinged

(2) : the movable parts of a table top added a leaf to the table to accommodate more people

c(1) : a thin sheet or plate of any substance : lamina

(2) : metal (such as gold or silver) in sheets usually thinner than foil

(3) : one of the plates of a leaf spring

leaf

verb

leafed; leafing; leafs

Definition of leaf (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

1 : to shoot out or produce leaves will leaf out in spring

2 : to turn over pages especially to browse or skim leaf through a book

transitive verb

: to turn over the pages of

Illustration of leaf

Noun

forms of leaf 1a(1): 1 needle-shaped, 2 linear, 3 lanceolate, 4 elliptical, 5 ensiform, 6 oblong, 7 oblanceolate with acuminate tip, 8 ovate with acute tip, 9 obovate, 10 spatulate, 11 fiddle-shaped, 12 cuneate, 13 deltoid, 14 cordate, 15 reniform, 16 orbiculate, 17 runcinate, 18 lyrate, 19 peltate, 20 hastate, 21 sagittate, 22 odd-pinnate, 23 abruptly pinnate, 24 trifoliolate, 25, 26 palmate

In the meaning defined above

Other Words from leaf Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about leaf

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Synonyms for leaf

Synonyms: Verb

flip, riffle, skim, thumb

Examples of leaf in a Sentence

Noun

I heard the rustle of the autumn leaves. a pile of dead leaves The trees drop their leaves in the fall, and new leaves grow again in the spring. The trees have not yet come into leaf.

Verb

we must have spent hours leafing through wallpaper books before we found something we both liked

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Serve with cilantro leaves, radishes, and lime wedges if desired. — Woman's Day Kitchen, Woman's Day, "Pork and Hominy Soup," 19 Dec. 2018 Then, right before the team of six leaves for the day, the furnace is emptied and the rolls are left to cool overnight. — Amy Verner, Vogue, "Vogue Got an Exclusive Tour of Chanel’s Ateliers While Tonight’s Métiers d’Art Collection Was Being Made," 5 Dec. 2018 The 24-inch brush head of a push broom bulldozes leaves. — Peter Martin, Popular Mechanics, "No One Should Live Without a Push Broom," 12 Nov. 2018 Close the container and vigorously shake the sprouts up and down until a sizable amount of leaves have fallen off. — Audrey Bruno, SELF, "The Easiest Ways to Prep a Bunch of Brussels Sprouts at Once," 25 Oct. 2018 While there aren’t any rumors or spy shots of a new Fire HD tablet, a close reading of the tea leaves suggests a new one is on the way. — Michael Simon, PCWorld, "Amazon is blowing out its Fire HD 8 tablets for $50, which probably means a new model is on the way," 29 Aug. 2018 The sound of rustling leaves can also be heard as the tree falls. — Madeline Farber, Fox News, "BBC reporter covering Hawaii hurricane hit by falling tree during live report: 'That was unexpected'," 25 Aug. 2018 In particular, that work relied on molecules called plant waxes: alkanoic acids with long chains of carbon, formed in the cuticles of plant leaves. — Kiona N. Smith, Ars Technica, "Carbon impact of ancient Maya farming may still be felt," 22 Aug. 2018 But the margin of victory — 200 votes to 117 — leaves May a weakened leader who has lost the support of a big chunk of her party over her handling of Britain’s exit from the European Union. — Jill Lawless, The Seattle Times, "UK’s May wins no-confidence vote by MPs unhappy over Brexit," 12 Dec. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

The final room of the show presents surveillance footage, sent in by Eckhaus Latta’s retail partners, of unsuspecting shoppers leafing through their last collection. — Jacob Gallagher, WSJ, "A Museum Show Where the Exhibits Are for Sale," 6 Aug. 2018 Paul Newman kicking up his white-socked feet while leafing through movie scripts with his wife Joanne in January 1958. — Jacob Gallagher, WSJ, "White Socks and Black Loafers. Stylish or Best Left to Michael Jackson?," 26 Sep. 2018 As spring temperatures warmed, oak trees were leafing out earlier and peak caterpillar season was arriving up to two weeks sooner in some places. — New York Times, "5 Plants and Animals Utterly Confused by Climate Change," 4 Apr. 2018 The trees have fully leafed, flowers are blooming, bees pollinating, the Island in the City Festival is right around the corner. — Staff Report, chicagotribune.com, "Shout Out: Lidia Andronic is a Harwood Heights beekeeper looking out for our pollinators," 6 July 2018 The result will be familiar to many — a tree that leafs out with not a whole lot of vim and vigor and then collapses after a few hot days. — Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, "There's no such thing as 'average' Kentucky weather. And trees hate that," 13 July 2018 Trees in the Northern Hemisphere leaf out in the spring as frost recedes. Caterpillars hatch to gorge on leaves. — New York Times, "5 Plants and Animals Utterly Confused by Climate Change," 4 Apr. 2018 The next spring the vine leafed out solidly and there, somewhere in the foliage, hung one thin straggle of purple flowers. — Murr Brewster, The Christian Science Monitor, "Attack of the purple ‘bean trees’," 6 June 2018 This is affecting the entire tree in both cases, including parts that have just leafed out yet have not produced any buds. — OregonLive.com, "Should I pinch off blueberry blossoms? What fertilizer is best? Ask an expert," 28 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'leaf.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.