leach

¹

[ leech ]

verb (used with object)

1. to dissolve out soluble constituents from (ashes, soil, etc.) by percolation.
2. to cause (water or other liquid) to percolate through something.

verb (used without object)

1. (of ashes, soil, etc.) to undergo the action of percolating water.
2. to percolate, as water.

noun

1. the act or process of leaching.
2. a product or solution obtained by leaching; leachate.
3. the material leached.
4. a vessel for use in leaching.

leach

²

[ leech ]

noun

, Nautical.

1. leech ³.

Leach

¹

/ liːtʃ /

noun

1. LeachBernard (Howell)18871979MBritishHong KongARTS AND CRAFTS: potter Bernard ( Howell ). 1887–1979, British potter, born in Hong Kong

leach

²

/ liːtʃ /

noun

1. See leech
   a variant spelling of leech 2

leach

³

/ liːtʃ /

verb

1. to remove or be removed from a substance by a percolating liquid
2. to lose or cause to lose soluble substances by the action of a percolating liquid
3. See percolate
   another word for percolate percolate

noun

1. the act or process of leaching
2. a substance that is leached or the constituents removed by leaching
3. a porous vessel for leaching

Derived Forms

• ˈleacher, noun

Other Words From

• leacha·ble adjective
• leacha·bili·ty noun
• leacher noun
• un·leached adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of leach¹

1425–75; late Middle English leche leachate, infusion, probably Old English *læc ( e ), *lec ( e ), akin to leccan to wet, moisten, causative of leak

Word History and Origins

Origin of leach¹

C17: variant of obsolete letch to wet, perhaps from Old English leccan to water; related to leak

Example Sentences

They are notorious for ending up in waterways and other ecosystems, where they contaminate habitats, leach chemicals and become part of the food chain.

From Time

There’s another Britney on my mind today, too, one that is alive, one that can be saved from the leaches that are controlling and trafficking her.

From Time

Rising sea levels have elevated the water table in coastal areas, shrinking the depth of leach fields and increasing contamination.

From Washington Post

Professor Penelope Leach told The Daily Beast it was ludicrous to monitor young children in that way.

From The Daily Beast

The compilation also brought the Nazi-riffic Apt Pupil and leach-tastic The Body (aka Stand By Me) to the silver screen.

From The Daily Beast

Leach ran an ad teasing Margolies about her Clinton connection, dismissing the first family of Democratic politics as old news.

From The Daily Beast

Leach was active in several moderate groups during his 30 years in the House, losing his bid for reelection in 2006.

From The Daily Beast

For Jeff Leach, the man behind it, the restaurant was an experiment.

From The Daily Beast

Among the former were a species of phyllosoma, and the Alima hyalina of Leach.

From Project Gutenberg

As Donovan described and figured this insect many years before Dr. Leach, his name has the right of priority.

From Project Gutenberg

Mr. Leach, of Michigan, stated that he had paired with Mr. English, or he would have voted in the negative.

From Project Gutenberg

In Calepteryx Virgo Leach, the former are of a lovely silky blue, and the latter green.

From Project Gutenberg

A Y-shaped partition that divides the head internally in Locusta Leach, into two chambers, an anterior and posterior.

From Project Gutenberg