leap

I UK [liːp] / US [lɪp] verb
Word forms "leap":
present tense I/you/we/they leap he/she/it leaps present participle leaping past tense leaped or leapt UK [lept] / US past participle leaped or leapt
**

1) [intransitive] to move somewhere suddenly and quickly

She leapt to her feet (= suddenly stood up) when she saw me.

leap into/out of/from something:

The suspect was seen leaping into a car and speeding off.

He leapt out of bed.

2)

a) [intransitive] to jump into the air or over a long distance

People were forced to leap to safety from the burning building.

leap into/from/onto:

She leapt into the air with joy.

b) [transitive] to jump over something

The horse leapt the fence and galloped off down the track.

3) [intransitive] to suddenly improve, increase, or progress

Sales have leapt 43% this quarter.

4) [intransitive] to suddenly change to another time or situation, for example in a film

The action then leaps forward to 1989, when Rose is an elderly woman.

•

leap at the chance/opportunity/offer — to accept something quickly and in an enthusiastic way

Klein leapt at the chance to appear in the show.

- leap into action

- leap off the page

- leap to someone's defence

Phrasal verbs:

- leap in

- leap on

- leap out at

See:

heart, look I

II UK [liːp] / US [lɪp] noun [countable]
Word forms "leap":
singular leap plural leaps
*

1) a jump, especially one that is long or high

a record-breaking leap of 2.04 metres

a flying leap (= high into the air):

The angry monkey crossed the cage with a flying leap.

2) a sudden increase or improvement

leap in:

a huge leap in the price of fuel

3) a big change in the way that you think or in what you do

Most publishing companies have made the leap into multimedia.

Moving to a place where I knew no one was a big leap for me.

•

by/in leaps and bounds — used for saying that someone or something improves or increases a lot

Murray has been working hard at his game and has progressed by leaps and bounds.

- a leap in the dark

- a leap of faith