Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - leak

~1 v 1 if a container, pipe, roof etc leaks, or if it leaks gas, liquid etc, there is a small hole or crack in it that lets the gas or liquid flow out or flow through  (The roof always leaks when it rains. | leak sth)  (My car seems to be leaking oil.) 2 if a gas or liquid leaks, it gets in or through a hole in something + into/through/out of etc  (Gas was leaking out of the pipes.) 3 to deliberately give secret information to a newspaper, television company etc  (leak sth to)  (Details of his business dealings were leaked to the press.) 4 leak like a sieve to leak very badly leak out phr v if secret information leaks out, a lot of people find out about it  (News of his dismissal soon leaked out.) ~2 n 1 a small hole that lets liquid or gas flow into or out of something  (There's a leak in the car radiator.) 2 a gas/oil/water leak an escape of gas or liquid through a hole in something 3 a situation in which secret information is deliberately given to a newspaper, television company etc  (a leak suggesting that the hospital is to be closed) 4 take/have a leak slang to pass water from your body; urinate  (- see also spring a leak spring2 (9))