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leach

1
[ leech ]
/ litʃ /
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See synonyms for: leach / leaching on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
to dissolve out soluble constituents from (ashes, soil, etc.) by percolation.
to cause (water or other liquid) to percolate through something.
verb (used without object)
(of ashes, soil, etc.) to undergo the action of percolating water.
to percolate, as water.
noun
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Origin of leach

1
1425–75; late Middle English leche leachate, infusion, probably Old English *læc(e), *lec(e), akin to leccan to wet, moisten, causative of leak

OTHER WORDS FROM leach

leach·a·ble, adjectiveleach·a·bil·i·ty, nounleacher, nounun·leached, adjective

Other definitions for leach (2 of 2)

leach2
[ leech ]
/ litʃ /

noun Nautical.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use leach in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for leach (1 of 3)

leach1
/ (liːtʃ) /

verb
to remove or be removed from a substance by a percolating liquid
to lose or cause to lose soluble substances by the action of a percolating liquid
noun
the act or process of leaching
a substance that is leached or the constituents removed by leaching
a porous vessel for leaching

Derived forms of leach

leacher, noun

Word Origin for leach

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

British Dictionary definitions for leach (2 of 3)

leach2
/ (liːtʃ) /

noun
a variant spelling of leech 2

British Dictionary definitions for leach (3 of 3)

Leach
/ (liːtʃ) /

noun
Bernard (Howell). 1887–1979, British potter, born in Hong Kong
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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