Definition

1. Noun:

   • A flat, typically green, organ of a plant: A leaf is the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants, usually attached to a stem or branch.
   • A single sheet of paper in a book, magazine, or manuscript: A leaf refers to one piece of paper, which is two pages (front and back).
   • A hinged or detachable flat section: A leaf can be a part of a table that can be extended or a door within a larger structure.

2. Verb:

   • To produce leaves: When a plant or tree grows new leaves.
   • To turn over pages quickly or casually: To look through a book or magazine by turning its pages.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The maple leaf turns a brilliant red in autumn.
  • He carefully turned the fragile leaf of the ancient manuscript.
  • We need to add a leaf to the dining table for the dinner party.

• Verb:

  • The trees will leaf out in early spring.
  • She leafed through the magazine while waiting at the doctor's office.

Advanced Usage

• "To take a leaf out of someone's book": To copy or imitate someone, especially because they are successful or admirable.

  • You should take a leaf out of your sister's book and start studying more seriously.

• "To turn over a new leaf": To start behaving in a better way; to make a fresh start.

  • After the argument, he promised to turn over a new leaf and be more considerate.

Variants and Related Words

• Leafy (adj): Having many leaves; resembling a leaf.

  • We walked down a leafy suburban street.

• Leaflet (n): A printed sheet of paper, usually folded, containing information or advertising.

  • They were handing out leaflets about the concert.

• Leafless (adj): Having no leaves.

  • The trees were leafless in the middle of winter.

Synonyms

• Noun (Plant part): Frond, blade, needle (for conifers).
• Noun (Sheet of paper): Folio, page, sheet.
• Verb (Produce leaves): Sprout, bud.
• Verb (Turn pages): Flip, thumb, browse, skim.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Leaf through: To turn the pages of a book, magazine, etc., quickly and without reading carefully.
  • I just leafed through the catalog to see if anything caught my eye.

Related Idioms

• Shake like a leaf: To tremble violently, usually from fear or cold.

  • He was shaking like a leaf before his big presentation.

• In leaf: (Of a tree, plant, etc.) having grown its leaves.

  • By May, the hedgerows were fully in leaf.

Verb

1. produce leaves, of plants
2. turn over pages
   • leaf through a book
   • leaf a manuscript
3. look through a book or other written material
   • He thumbed through the report
   • She leafed through the volume

Noun

1. hinged or detachable flat section (as of a table or door)
2. a sheet of any written or printed material (especially in a manuscript or book)
3. the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants