Gain vs Leap - What's the difference?

Gain is a synonym of leap.

As nouns the difference between gain and leap

is that gain is the act of gaining or gain can be (architecture) a square or bevelled notch cut out of a girder, binding joist, or other timber which supports a floor beam, so as to receive the end of the floor beam while leap is (acronym).

As a preposition gain

is (obsolete) against.

As an adjective gain

is (obsolete) straight, direct; near; short.

As an adverb gain

is (obsolete) straightly; quickly; by the nearest way or means.

As a verb gain

is to acquire possession of what one did not have before.

gain

English

Etymology 1

From dialectal English (m), (m), short for (m), . More at (l).

Preposition

(English prepositions)

(obsolete) Against.

Derived terms

* (l)

Etymology 2

From (etyl) (m), (m), , from the adjective.

Adjective

(en adjective)

(obsolete) Straight, direct; near; short.

the gainest way

(obsolete) Suitable; convenient; ready.

(dialectal) Easy; tolerable; handy, dexterous.

(dialectal) Honest; respectable; moderate; cheap.

Derived terms

* (l) * (l)

Adverb

(en adverb)

(obsolete) Straightly; quickly; by the nearest way or means.

(dialectal) Suitably; conveniently; dexterously; moderately.

(dialectal) Tolerably; fairly.

gain quiet (= fairly/pretty quiet)

Etymology 3

From (etyl) (m), . The Middle English word was reinforced by (etyl) . Related to (l), (l).

Noun

(en noun)

The act of gaining.

* Tennyson

the lust of gain

What one gains, as a return on investment or dividend.

No pain, no gain .

* Shakespeare

Everyone shall share in the gains .

(electronics) The factor by which a signal is multiplied.

Antonyms

* loss

Derived terms

* autogain * gainful * gainsome

Verb

(en verb)

To acquire possession of what one did not have before.

Looks like you've gained a new friend.

* Bible, Matthew xvi. 26

What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

* Alexander Pope

For fame with toil we gain , but lose with ease.

To have or receive advantage or profit; to acquire gain; to grow rich; to advance in interest, health, or happiness; to make progress.

The sick man gains daily.

* Bible, Ezekiel xxii. 12

Thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion.

(dated) To come off winner or victor in; to be successful in; to obtain by competition.

to gain''' a battle; to '''gain a case at law

To increase.

* 1883 , (Howard Pyle), (The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood)

Then they had bouts of wrestling and of cudgel play, so that every day they gained in skill and strength.

To be more likely to catch or overtake an individual.

I'm gaining (on you).

gain ground

To reach.

to gain the top of a mountain

* 1907 , Jack London, The Iron Heel :

Ernest laughed harshly and savagely when he had gained the street.

To draw into any interest or party; to win to one's side; to conciliate.

* Bible, Matthew xviii. 15

If he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

* Dryden

to gratify the queen, and gain the court

To put on weight.

I've been gaining .

(of a clock or watch) To run fast.

Etymology 4

Compare (etyl) .

Noun

(en noun)

(architecture) A square or bevelled notch cut out of a girder, binding joist, or other timber which supports a floor beam, so as to receive the end of the floor beam.

Anagrams

* (l) * (l) * (l), (l) ----

leap

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) lepen, from (etyl) ‘to stumble’).

Verb

To jump.

* anonymous, Merlin

It is grete nede a man to go bak to recouer the better his leep

* 1600 , anonymous, The wisdome of Doctor Dodypoll , act 4

I, I defie thee: wert not thou next him when he leapt into the Riuer?

* 1783 , , from the “Illiad” in Lectures on Rhetoric and Belles Lettres , lecture 4, page 65

Th’ infernal monarch rear’d his horrid head, Leapt from his throne, lest Neptune’s arm should lay His dark dominions open to the day.

* 1999 , Ai, Vice: New & Selected Poems , page 78

It is better to leap into the void.

To pass over by a leap or jump.

to leap a wall or a ditch

To copulate with (a female beast); to cover.

To cause to leap.

to leap a horse across a ditch

Usage notes

The choice between leapt and leaped is mostly a matter of regional differences: leapt is preferred in British English and leaped in American English. According to research by John Algeo (British or American English? , Cambridge, 2006), leapt is used 80% of the time in UK and 32% in the US.

Synonyms

* (jump from one location to another) bound, hop, jump, spring * (jump upwards) bound, hop, jump, spring

Noun

(en noun)

The act of leaping or jumping.

* L'Estrange

Wickedness comes on by degrees, and sudden leaps from one extreme to another are unnatural.

* H. Sweet

Changes of tone may proceed either by leaps or glides.

The distance traversed by a leap or jump.

(figuratively) A significant move forward.

* 1969 July 20, , as he became the first man to step on the moon

That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind.

(mining) A fault.

Copulation with, or coverture of, a female beast.

(music) A passing from one note to another by an interval, especially by a long one, or by one including several other intermediate intervals.

(obsolete) A basket.

(Wyclif)

A weel or wicker trap for fish.

(Webster 1913)

Derived terms

* by leaps and bounds * leap day * leapfrog * leaping lizards * leap of faith * leaps and bounds * leap second * leap year * look before you leap * quantum leap

Etymology 2

From (etyl) leep, from (etyl) .

Alternative forms

* leep

Noun

(en noun)

basket

a trap or snare for fish

half a bushel

Anagrams

* English irregular verbs