leaf

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
leaf/liːf/

▶noun (pl. leaves)

• 1 a flattened structure of a plant, typically green and blade-like, in which photosynthesis and transpiration mainly take place.

  ■ (often in phr. in/into leaf) the state of having leaves.

• 2 a single thickness of paper, especially in a book.

• 3 gold, silver, or other metal in the form of very thin foil.

• 4 the part of a door, shutter, or table that is hinged or may be inserted.

▶verb

• 1 (of a plant) put out new leaves.

• 2 (leaf through) turn over (pages or papers), reading them quickly or casually.

– phrases
turn over a new leaf start to act or behave in a better way.

– derivatives
leafage noun,
-leafed adjective,
leafless adjective,
leaf-like adjective.

– origin OE lēaf, of Gmc origin.