leach¹

[leech]

See more synonyms for leach 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

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

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

Examples from the Web for leaching

Contemporary Examples

I submit that a regular program of interaction would go miles in leaching partisan poison from the well in Washington.
Grill Him Again!
Mark McKinnon
February 3, 2010

Historical Examples

One cause that appears obvious and easy of acceptance is leaching.
Right Use of Lime in Soil Improvement
Alva Agee
Water undermines by washing away the softer parts and by leaching.
The Rocky Mountain Wonderland
Enos A. Mills
This leaching process concentrates these minerals as ore that can be mined.
Deserts
A. S. Walker
It in part prevents the leaching out of the soluble parts of the ash.
The Elements of Agriculture
George E. Waring
A good illustration of leaching is found in the manufacture of potash.
The Elements of Agriculture
George E. Waring

British Dictionary definitions for leaching

Leach

noun

Bernard (Howell). 1887–1979, British potter, born in Hong Kong

leach¹

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
another word for percolate (def. 1), percolate (def. 2)

noun

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

Derived Formsleacher, noun

Word Origin

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

leach²

noun

a variant spelling of leech 2

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.

leaching in Medicine