leaf
LEEF
Leaf (noun) means a flat, usually green part of a plant that grows from a stem or branch and carries out photosynthesis. Example: “A single leaf drifted down and landed on the park bench.”
noun
1
A flat, usually green part of a plant that grows from a stem or branch and carries out photosynthesis.
"A single leaf drifted down and landed on the park bench."
"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).
"Each leaf of the old atlas was printed on thick, creamy paper."
"He turned the leaf carefully so the fragile page would not tear."
"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.
"Grandma keeps the spare leaf in the cupboard beside the dining room."
"When the guests arrived, we lifted the leaf into place and added more chairs."
"They inserted an extra leaf into the dining table for the holidays."
verb
1
To grow leaves.
"The oak is always the last tree in our street to leaf."
"After the mild winter, the hedges began to leaf much earlier than usual."
"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
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Word forms
- Plural
- leaves
- Third person singular
- leafs
- Past tense
- leafed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A single _____ drifted down and landed on the park bench.
Etymology
From Old English lēaf, an ancient Germanic word for the green parts of a plant, related to German Laub ("foliage").
Related words
Rhymes for leaf
See all rhymes for leaf →Frequently asked questions
What does “leaf” mean?
The word “leaf” means a flat, usually green part of a plant that grows from a stem or branch and carries out photosynthesis. In plain terms, the green blade-like part of a plant — or, by extension, a thin sheet of paper, metal, or a hinged table panel.
How do you pronounce “leaf”?
“Leaf” is pronounced LEEF (/ˈliːf/ in IPA).
How do you use “leaf” in a sentence?
Here is “leaf” used in a sentence: “The maple leaf turns red in autumn.”
What is another word for “leaf”?
Words with a similar meaning to “leaf” include phyllon and leave.
What part of speech is “leaf”?
Depending on how it is used, “leaf” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “leaf” come from?
The word “leaf” comes from Old English. From Old English lēaf, an ancient Germanic word for the green parts of a plant, related to German Laub ("foliage").
Is “leaf” a common word?
“Leaf” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “leaf” have?
“Leaf” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a flat, usually green part of a plant that grows from a stem or branch and carries out photosynthesis.
What is the difference between 'leaf' and 'leaves'?
'Leaf' is the singular form, naming one flat, usually green part of a plant. 'Leaves' is its plural, referring to more than one. The plural takes an irregular form, changing the 'f' to 'ves', rather than simply adding 's'.
Why are most leaves green?
A leaf is the part of a plant that carries out photosynthesis, the process that makes food using light. Leaves are typically green because they contain chlorophyll, the pigment used in photosynthesis, which reflects green light.
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