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1[countable] a flat green part of a plant, growing from a stem or branch or from the root lettuce/cabbage/oak leaves The trees are just coming into leaf. the dead leaves of autumn Topic CollocationsThe Living Worldanimals
- animals mate/breed/reproduce/feed (on something)
- fish/amphibians swim/spawn (= lay eggs)
- birds fly/migrate/nest/sing
- insects crawl/fly/bite/sting
- insects/bees/locusts swarm
- bees collect/gather nectar/pollen
- spiders spin/weave a web
- snakes/lizards shed their skins
- bears/hedgehogs/frogs hibernate
- insect larvae grow/develop/pupate
- an egg/a chick/a larva hatches
- attract/find/choose a mate
- produce/release eggs/sperm
- lay/fertilize/incubate/hatch eggs
- inhabit a forest/a reef/the coast
- mark/enter/defend (a) territory
- stalk/hunt/capture/catch/kill prey
- trees/plants grow/bloom/blossom/flower
- a seed germinates/sprouts
- leaves/buds/roots/shoots appear/develop/form
- flower buds swell/open
- a fungus grows/spreads/colonizes something
- pollinate/fertilize a flower/plant
- produce/release/spread/disperse pollen/seeds/spores
- produce/bear fruit
- develop/grow/form roots/shoots/leaves
- provide/supply/absorb/extract/release nutrients
- perform/increase/reduce photosynthesis
- bacteria/microbes/viruses grow/spread/multiply
- bacteria/microbes live/thrive in/on something
- bacteria/microbes/viruses evolve/colonize something/cause disease
- bacteria break something down/convert something (into something)
- a virus enters/invades something/the body
- a virus mutates/evolves/replicates (itself)
- be infected with/contaminated with/exposed to a new strain of a virus/drug-resistant bacteria
- contain/carry/harbor bacteria/a virus
- kill/destroy/eliminate harmful/deadly bacteria
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- 2-leaf, -leafed, -leaved (in adjectives) having leaves of the type or number mentioned a four-leaf clover a broad-leaved plant
- 3[countable] a sheet of paper, especially a page in a book She carefully turned the leaves of the precious volume. see flyleaf, loose-leaf, overleaf
- 4[uncountable] metal, especially gold or silver, in the form of very thin sheets gold leaf
- 5[countable] a part of a table that can be lifted up or pulled into position in order to make the table bigger Idioms
to copy someone's behavior and do things in the same way that they do, because they are successful synonym emulate
to change your way of life, to become a better, more responsible person
Check pronunciation: leaf