Dictionary.com
definitions
  • synonyms

leach1

[leech]
See more synonyms for leach on Thesaurus.com
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.
Show More
verb (used without object)
  1. (of ashes, soil, etc.) to undergo the action of percolating water.
  2. to percolate, as water.
Show More
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.
Show More

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
Related formsleach·a·ble, adjectiveleach·a·bil·i·ty, nounleach·er, nounun·leached, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

seepfilterstrainpercolateextractfiltratelixiviate

Examples from the Web for leaching

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

British Dictionary definitions for leaching

Leach

noun
  1. Bernard (Howell). 1887–1979, British potter, born in Hong Kong
Show More

leach1

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. another word for percolate (def. 1), percolate (def. 2)
Show More
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
Show More
Derived Formsleacher, noun

Word Origin

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

leach2

noun
  1. a variant spelling of leech 2
Show More
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

Word Origin and History for leaching

leach

v.

Old English leccan "to moisten, water, wet, irrigate," (see leak). The word disappears, then re-emerges late 18c. in a technological sense in reference to percolating liquids. Related: Leached; leaching.

Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
leaching in Medicine

leaching

(lē′chĭng)
n.
  1. lixiviation
Show More
Related formsleach v.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
leaching in Science

leaching

[lē′chĭng]
  1. The removal of soluble material from a substance, such as soil or rock, through the percolation of water. Organic matter is typically removed from a soil horizon and soluble metals or salts from a rock by leaching. Leaching differs from eluviation in that it affects soluble, not suspended, material and often results in the complete removal of the material from the soil or rock.
Show More
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.