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   Leap

   /lēp/

   

   verb

   • 1. jump or spring a long way, to a great height, or with great force: "I leaped across the threshold" Similar jump overjumpvault overvaultspring overbound overhurdleskip (over)cross oversail overhop (over)leapfroghigh jumpclearnegotiate
   • ▪ move quickly and suddenly: "Polly leapt to her feet" Similar springjumpjump upbounddartlunge
   • ▪ jump across or over: "a coyote leaped the fence" Similar jump overjumpvault overvaultspring overbound overhurdleskip (over)cross oversail overhop (over)leapfroghigh jumpclearnegotiate
   • ▪ make a sudden rush to do something; act eagerly and suddenly: "it was time for me to leap into action" Similar rushhurryhastenhurtlearrive at hastilyreach hurriedlycome to overhastilyform hastilyhurryhastenjumprushreach
   • ▪ accept (an opportunity) eagerly: "they leapt at the opportunity to combine fun with fund-raising" Similar accept eagerlygraspgrasp with both handsgrabtake advantage ofseize (on)snatchjump atpounce onOpposite reject
   • ▪ (of a price or figure) increase dramatically: "sales leaped 40 percent during the Christmas season" Similar increase rapidlysoarrocketskyrocketshoot upescalatemountsurgespiralgrow rapidlyrise rapidlyOpposite fallplummet
   • ▪ (especially of writing) be conspicuous; stand out: "amid the notes, a couple of items leap out"

   noun

   • 1. a forceful jump or quick movement: "she came downstairs in a series of flying leaps" Similar jumpvaultspringboundhopskipentrechatrare:curvet
   • ▪ a dramatic increase in price, amount, etc.: "a leap of 75 percent in two years" Similar sudden riserapid increaseescalationsoaringsurgeupsurgeupswingupturnincrementelevationrevivalOpposite drop
   • ▪ a sudden, abrupt change or transition: "it doesn't take a great leap of imagination to recognize that you have held an important leadership role"
   • ▪ (in place names) a thing to be leaped over or from: "Lover's Leap"

   Word Origin Old Englishhlēapan (verb), hlȳp (noun), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch lopen, German laufen (verb), and Dutch loop, German Lauf (noun), all meaning ‘run’, also to lope.

   Derivatives

   • 1. leaper noun

   Scrabble Points: 6

   • L

     1

   • E

     1

   • A

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   • P

     3

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