leaf

A flat, usually green part of a plant that grows from a stem or branch.

• A leaf fell from the tree.
• The leaves turn yellow in autumn.
• Why are the leaves on this plant brown?

Common phrases: green leaf, leaf on something, fallen leaf

A sheet of paper in a book, with a page on each side.

• One leaf was missing from the book.
• She wrote her name on a blank leaf.
• Several leaves of the old manuscript were torn.

Similar words: sheet

Common phrases: blank leaf, leaf of something, torn leaf, printed leaf

An object or part with a shape like the flat green part of a plant.

• A silver leaf hung from her necklace.
• The gate had decorative leaves made of iron.
• Each carved leaf had a pointed tip.

Common phrases: decorative leaf, carved leaf, metal leaf

To turn pages quickly and look briefly at what is on them.

• I like to leaf through old books.
• She leafed through the catalogue after lunch.
• Have you leafed through our photo album?

How to use it: leaf through something (I leafed through a magazine while I waited.)

Similar words: browse, flip through

Common phrases: leaf through something, leaf through pages

If a plant does this, its flat green parts begin to grow.

• The trees begin to leaf in spring.
• The oak leafed out later than usual.
• Warm weather helped the shrubs leaf early.

Similar words: put out leaves

Common phrases: leaf out, leaf in spring