leaping

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
leap/liːp/

▶verb (past or past part. leaped or leapt)

• 1 jump or spring a long way.

  ■ jump across.

• 2 move quickly and suddenly.

  ■ (leap at) accept (an opportunity) eagerly.

  ■ (leap out) (especially of writing) be conspicuous; stand out.

• 3 (of a price or figure) increase dramatically.

▶noun

• 1 an instance of leaping; a forceful jump or quick movement.

• 2 a sudden abrupt change.

– phrases
a leap in the dark a daring step or enterprise with unpredictable consequences.
by (or in) leaps and bounds with startlingly rapid progress.

– derivatives
leaper noun.

– origin OE hlēapan (v.), hlȳp (n.), of Gmc origin; rel. to lope.