leap-day

A family celebrates a leap-day birthday with a special cake.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • The extra day in a leap year: "leap-day" refers to February 29, the additional day added to the calendar in a leap year to keep the calendar year synchronized with the astronomical or seasonal year.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • February 29 is known as leap-day, occurring only once every four years. (The extra day in a leap year.)
  • She was born on leap-day, so she only celebrates her birthday every four years. (A specific date that appears only in leap years.)

Advanced Usage

• "to observe leap-day": to recognize or celebrate February 29.

  • Many people born on leap-day observe it with special traditions. (They mark the day with unique customs.)

• "leap-day proposal": a tradition in some cultures where women are allowed to propose marriage to men on February 29.

  • In some countries, leap-day is the only day when women can propose to men. (A cultural custom tied to the date.)

Variants and Related Words

• Leap year (n): a year containing an extra day (February 29), occurring every four years.

  • 2024 is a leap year, so it has 366 days. (A year with an added day.)

• Leap (v): to jump or spring a long distance; also used in "leap year."

  • The calendar leaps forward by one day in a leap year. (A metaphorical jump in time.)

Synonyms

• Intercalary day: a day inserted into the calendar to align it with the solar year (formal term).
• Bissextile day: another term for leap-day, derived from Latin (rarely used in modern English).

Related Idioms

• "Leap-day birthday": a birthday that falls on February 29, often celebrated on February 28 or March 1 in non-leap years.
  • She has a leap-day birthday, so she celebrates on March 1 in most years. (A special type of birthday.)