To Leap

1. (intransitive) To jump.
2. (transitive) To pass over by a leap or jump.
3. (archaic, transitive) To copulate with (a female beast)
4. (archaic, transitive) To copulate with (a human)
5. (transitive) To cause to leap.

Usage notes

The choice between leapt and leaped is often generally a matter of regional differences: leapt is preferred in British English whereas leaped is somewhat more common in American English (although this is not to say that leapt is not used in American English, especially in areas with historical ties to England). 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