leap

[ leep ]
/ lip /

verb (used without object), leaped or leapt, leap·ing.

verb (used with object), leaped or leapt, leap·ing.

noun

Idioms for leap

Origin of leap

before 900; Middle English lepen, Old English hlēapan to leap, run; cognate with German laufen, Old Norse hlaupa, Gothic hlaupan

SYNONYMS FOR leap

1 bound. See jump.

OTHER WORDS FROM leap

leap·er, noun

British Dictionary definitions for by leaps and bounds

leap
/ (liːp) /

verb leaps, leaping, leapt or leaped

noun

Derived forms of leap

leaper, noun

Word Origin for leap

Old English hlēapan; related to Gothic hlaupan, German laufen

Idioms and Phrases with by leaps and bounds (1 of 2)

by leaps and bounds

Rapidly, or in fast progress, as in The corn is growing by leaps and bounds, or School enrollment is increasing by leaps and bounds. This term is a redundancy, since leap and bound both mean “spring” or “jump,” but the two words have been paired since Shakespeare's time and are still so used.

Idioms and Phrases with by leaps and bounds (2 of 2)

leap