leap-year

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A calendar year containing an extra day (February 29) to synchronize the calendar year with the solar year. Leap years occur in years divisible by 4, except for century years not divisible by 400.

Usage Examples

• (A year with an extra day in February.)
• (A person born on the extra day of a leap year.)
• (The astronomical reason for the extra day.)

Advanced Usage

• "leap-year proposal": A tradition (especially maritime or in some cultures) where women are allowed to propose marriage to men during a leap year, often limited to the extra day (February 29).
  • In some countries, a leap-year proposal is seen as a reversal of traditional gender roles. (A custom where women initiate marriage proposals.)

Variants and Related Words

• Leap day (n): The extra day (February 29) added to a leap year.
  • Leap day is often celebrated with special events or traditions. (The specific extra day.)

Synonyms

• Bissextile year: A technical term for a leap year, from the Latin "bissextus" (the sixth day before the Kalends of March, repeated in leap years).
  • The bissextile year corrects the calendar drift. (A formal synonym for leap year.)

Related Idioms

• Leap year baby: A person born on February 29, who typically celebrates birthdays on February 28 or March 1 in non-leap years.

  • As a leap year baby, he only gets a real birthday every four years. (Someone born on February 29.)

• Leap year tradition: Cultural customs associated with leap years, such as women proposing marriage.

  • The leap year tradition of women proposing dates back to the 5th century. (A cultural practice specific to leap years.)