undichte

Undichte is a German attributive adjective form derived from undicht, meaning not watertight or not airtight. It is used to describe a state or condition where sealing or containment fails, such as leaks or gaps. The form undichte specifically appears before feminine singular nouns, for example: eine undichte Stelle, die undichte Tür. In plural contexts the form changes (e.g., die undachten Stellen or die undichten Türen, depending on case), and the predicative form is undicht, as in Die Tür ist undicht.

In usage, undichte describes physical or technical leakage, such as water, gas, or air escaping through a seal, joint, or container. It is common in building, plumbing, automotive, and safety contexts, where pinpointing a leak or a faulty seal is important for maintenance and repair. The term can also appear in figurative expressions to indicate a lack of certainty or integrity, though this use is less common than the literal sense.

The etymology traces undichte to the prefix un- plus dicht (sealed, tight), with the typical German adjective inflection giving it the feminine singular attributive form undichte. The broader noun form for the concept of lacking tightness is Undichtigkeit; other related terms include Leck, Leckage, and Dichtung, used depending on whether the emphasis is on the leak, the leakage path, or the sealing component.

See also: Undichtigkeit, Leck, Leckage, Dichtung.