leaf
/liːf/ IELTSAcademic
noun
- 1.
A leaf is the flat, green part of a plant that grows from a stem or branch. It uses sunlight to make food for the plant.
- The tree lost its leaves in winter.
- A leaf blocks the sunlight.
- Rinse the spinach leaves well.
- 2.
A leaf is one side of a page in a book or notebook. It is often used in formal or older English.
- Please turn to leaf 12.
- The old book had torn leaves.
- He wrote a note on a loose leaf.
Adinary Nuance
Leaf is the normal word for the flat part of a plant. It is more specific than plant part or greenery, and more everyday than foliage, which sounds more formal or literary. In books, a leaf can mean one page or one sheet, but this use is less common today.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- lá
- Spanish
- hoja
- Chinese
- 叶子
- Japanese
- 葉
- Korean
- 잎
Etymology
Old English leaf meant both the plant part and a page of paper. It comes from a Germanic root shared with similar words in other Germanic languages.
Common phrases
fall leavesgreen leavesleaf througha leaf of paper
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between leaf and foliage?
- Leaf is one individual plant part. Foliage means the leaves on a plant or area, as a group.
- Can leaf mean a page?
- Yes. In older or formal English, a leaf can mean one page or one sheet in a book.
- Is leaf countable?
- Yes. One leaf, two leaves. The plural changes to leaves.
- What is the plural of leaf?
- The plural is leaves, not leafs.