leak

A hole or crack that lets liquid or gas enter or escape where it should not.

• There is a leak in the roof.
• The plumber repaired two leaks in the tank.
• Water entered the boat through a small leak.

How to use it: leak in something (The plumber found a leak in the pipe.)

Similar words: hole, crack

Common phrases: leak in something, roof leak, repair a leak

The release of secret information to people who were not supposed to know it.

• The leak revealed the secret plan.
• Officials investigated a leak of private emails.
• Several leaks to the press damaged the government's reputation.

How to use it: leak of something (The leak of confidential documents caused a scandal.); leak to someone/something (The minister ordered an investigation into the leak to the press.)

Similar words: disclosure, unauthorized release

Common phrases: information leak, security leak, leak to someone

A problem where a program keeps computer resources it no longer needs, leaving fewer available.

• The program has a memory leak.
• A resource leak eventually made the server crash.
• The developer fixed several leaks in the new version.

Common phrases: memory leak, resource leak, detect a leak

If something does this, it lets liquid or gas pass through a hole or crack.

• The tap is leaking.
• Our old car leaked oil onto the driveway.
• Does this tank leak when it is full?

Similar words: let out, let through

Common phrases: leak water, leak gas, leak oil

To give secret information to people who are not supposed to have it.

• Someone leaked the secret plan.
• An employee leaked private emails to the press.
• Who has been leaking information about the talks?

How to use it: leak something to someone/something (Someone leaked the report to a newspaper.)

Similar words: disclose, reveal, divulge

Opposites: conceal

Common phrases: leak information, leak a document, leak to someone

If liquid or gas does this, it passes through a hole or crack where it should not.

• Water leaked onto the floor.
• Gas was leaking through a loose connection.
• Oil has leaked into the river from the damaged tank.

How to use it: leak from/out of something (Gas leaked from a damaged pipe.); leak into something (Water leaked into the basement.); leak through something (Rainwater leaked through the roof.)

Similar words: escape, seep

Common phrases: leak through something, leak into something, leak out