leach

[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 leach

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. 2019

Related Words for leaching

seep, filter, strain, percolate, extract, filtrate, lixiviate

Examples from the Web for leaching

Contemporary Examples of leaching

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 of leaching

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
A good illustration of leaching is found in the manufacture of potash.
The Elements of Agriculture
George E. Waring
It in part prevents the leaching out of the soluble parts of the ash.
The Elements of Agriculture
George E. Waring

British Dictionary definitions for leaching

Leach

noun

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

leach

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 for leach

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

leach

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

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

leaching

[lē′chĭng]

n.

lixiviation

Related formsleach v.

leaching in Science

leaching

[lē′chĭng]

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.