noun A1 Beginner Common

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: “The maple leaf turns red in autumn.”

noun

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."

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."

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

To grow leaves.

"The trees begin to leaf out in early April."

How to use leaf

Learner’s notes

In 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

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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").

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

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frond blade foliage page sheet folio phyllon leave

Related words

go come saw leave boy page paper remain

Rhymes for leaf

deaf Greenleaf

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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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