leaf

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. a single sheet of paper in a book or magazine, which has two pages.

n. a single sheet of paper in a bound publication, comprising a recto and a verso page.

“He carefully turned the leaf of the old book to avoid tearing the fragile paper.”

“The manuscript was missing a single leaf, which unfortunately contained the most critical part of the historical record.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun

n. metal that has been beaten into a very thin sheet, often used for decoration.

n. metal, especially gold or silver, that has been beaten or rolled into an extremely thin film for gilding or decorative purposes.

“The artist applied gold leaf to the picture frame to make it look expensive.”

“Restoration of the cathedral's altar required several books of genuine gold leaf to match the original eighteenth-century finish.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. an extra piece that you can add to a table to make it longer.

n. a hinged or removable section of a table top designed to extend its surface area.

“We had to put the extra leaf in the dining table to fit all twelve guests.”

“The antique mahogany table features a central leaf that can be stored internally when not in use.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Computing Technical

n. in a diagram that looks like a tree, a point at the end that has no more branches.

n. in a tree data structure, a node that has no child nodes; the terminal vertex of a tree graph.

“The algorithm stops searching once it reaches a leaf in the decision tree.”

“Efficient traversal of the hierarchical structure requires identifying all leaf nodes before initiating the final calculation phase.”

C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Slang · Informal

n. a slang word for marijuana.

n. a slang term for cannabis or marijuana, referring to the plant's distinctive foliage.

“He was caught carrying a small bag of leaf in his pocket.”

“The local authorities have seen a rise in the distribution of high-potency leaf across the urban districts.”

B1 · Intermediate

v. to turn the pages of a book or magazine quickly without reading everything.

v. to turn over the pages of a book or periodical, typically while skimming or looking for something specific; usually takes 'through'.

“I spent the afternoon leafing through old fashion magazines at the doctor's office.”

“While waiting for the interview, she nervously leafed through her portfolio, checking that every document was in the correct order.”

C1 · Advanced Botany Technical

v. when a plant starts to grow new leaves.

v. to produce or put forth new foliage; to begin the seasonal growth of leaves.

“The trees usually begin to leaf in late April as the weather gets warmer.”

“The orchard began to leaf early this year due to an unseasonably warm February, putting the blossoms at risk of a late frost.”