leap
- 01 B1 Intermediate
v.to jump a long way or high into the air.
v.to spring through the air from one point to another by muscular effort.
Simple“The cat had to leap over the puddle to keep its paws dry.”
In context“The athlete managed to leap across the stream with such grace that he barely disturbed the loose gravel on the opposite bank.”
UsageOften used with prepositions like 'over', 'across', or 'into'.
- 02 B1 Intermediate
n.the act of jumping or the distance you jump.
n.the act of leaping; the space or distance covered by a single jump.
Simple“It was a big leap from the boat to the wooden dock.”
In context“With one powerful leap, the deer cleared the garden fence and disappeared into the dense forest.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a large and sudden change or improvement.
n.a sudden and significant transition or advancement in status, knowledge, or progress.
Simple“The new medicine is a huge leap forward for science.”
In context“The transition from steam power to electricity represented a massive technological leap that redefined industrial production in the twentieth century.”
UsageCommonly found in the idiom 'a leap of faith'.
SynonymsAntonyms - 04 C2 Proficiency
n.a jump from one musical note to another that is much higher or lower.
n.a movement from one note to another by an interval larger than a second.
Simple“The singer struggled with the sudden leap to the high note.”
In context“The melody is characterised by wide leaps and jagged rhythms, making it particularly challenging for the woodwind section to execute cleanly.”
UsageUsed to describe melodic motion that is not stepwise.
- 05 C2 Proficiency
n.the special name for a group of leopards.
n.the collective noun for a group of leopards.
Simple“We were lucky enough to spot a leap of leopards resting in the tree.”
In context“The guide whispered that a leap of leopards had been sighted near the watering hole earlier that morning.”
Teacher's tipThis is a 'term of venery' or collective noun; like 'a pride of lions', it is rarely used in everyday speech.
Usage leap forward