Definition of the word leap year

The term "leap year" refers to a calendar system used to synchronize the number of days in a year with the length of the solar year. A standard calendar year consists of 365 days, but the actual time it takes for the Earth to complete one revolution around the sun is approximately 365.24 days. To correct for this discrepancy, an extra day (usually February 29) is added to the calendar every four years in a leap year. This practice helps ensure that the calendar year remains roughly aligned with the astronomical year. The origin of the term "leap year" can be traced back to ancient Roman times, where an intercalary day was added to the calendar every three to four years to realign it with the cycles of the moon. The term "leap" is thought to refer to the fact that this additional day "leaps" into the calendar to correct for the excess days accumulated over time. The modern leap year system was officially adopted by the Roman Catholic Church in the 16th century as a means of aligning the date of Easter with the spring equinox. This system, known as the Gregorian calendar, has since become widely used around the world. Leap years are currently celebrated in many cultures, often associated with traditions such as asking women to propose marriage on Leap Day.