noun
leaf
LEEF
noun
1
A flat, usually green part of a plant that grows from a stem or branch and carries out photosynthesis.
"The maple leaf turns red in autumn."
"She pressed a leaf between the pages of her book."
2
A single sheet of paper in a book, counted as two pages (front and back).
"A few leaves had come loose from the old manuscript."
3
A thin, flat panel that can be added to a table to make it bigger, or one section of a hinged panel like a door.
"They inserted an extra leaf into the dining table for the holidays."
verb
1
To grow leaves.
"The trees begin to leaf out in early April."
How to Use Leaf
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe green blade-like part of a plant — or, by extension, a thin sheet of paper, metal, or a hinged table panel.
Common pairings
fall leaves
a leaf of paper
gold leaf
table leaf
turn over a new leaf
Word Forms
leafed past tense, leaves plural, Leafs plural, Leafs plural, leafs singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “leaf”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The maple _____ turns red in autumn.
Etymology
From Old English lēaf, an ancient Germanic word for the green parts of a plant, related to German Laub ("foliage").