leakとseep

京都市の国立京都国際会館で開かれている「科学技術と人類の未来に関する国際フォーラム」の第10回年次総会で，開会式に出席した安倍首相が国際的な協力を求めました。
文中のseepは「〈水光などが〉〈壁穴地面などから〉しみ出る, 漏れる」という意味（『プログレッシブ英和中辞典』小学館）。似たような単語にleakがありますが，英英辞書で調べてみるとleakはif a gas or liquid leaks somewhere, it gets through a hole in somethingという意味であるのに対し，seepはto flow slowly through small holes or spacesという意味で，その物質が通る速さの違いが2つの単語の差であることがわかります（LDOCE）。（Koyamamoto）

Japan PM seeks overseas help on Fukushima leak
TOKYO (AP) - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says Japan is open to receiving overseas help to contain widening radioactive water leaks at the crippled nuclear plant in Fukushima.
Mr Abe made the comments on Sunday in a speech at an international science forum in Kyoto in western Japan.
Despite Mr Abe's reassurances to the International Olympic Committee last month that the leaks were "under control," many Japanese believe he was glossing over problems at the plant.
Officials have acknowledged that the ground water contaminated with radioactive leaks have been seeping into the Pacific since soon after meltdowns following the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Recent leaks from storage tanks have added to public concerns.
http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/asia/story/japan-pm-seeks-overseas-help-fukushima-leak-20131006