Meaning & use

leaf

noun·Everyday

A flat, typically green part of a plant that grows from a stem and carries out photosynthesis.

See it in a sentence

Each autumn, the maple leaf outside my window turns from green to bright orange.

A single leaf drifted down and landed softly on the surface of the pond.

A note on using this word

As a verb, 'leaf through' means to turn pages quickly without reading closely; as a noun, 'leaf' can also mean a page of a book.

Words with a similar meaning

frondblade

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Another way to use it

2. verb

To turn the pages of a book or document quickly, glancing rather than reading closely.

She leafed through the magazine while waiting for her appointment to begin.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “leaf”, then compare your use with the examples above.

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.