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.

Example Sentences

The audience could almost smell the stale beer and cigarette smoke leaching from their skin.

From The Daily Beast

I submit that a regular program of interaction would go miles in leaching partisan poison from the well in Washington.

From The Daily Beast

On the other hand, the texture is sufficiently heavy to prevent undue leaching and drought.

From Project Gutenberg

We may place undue emphasis upon this factor, as other causes are at work, but leaching is a leading source of loss.

From Project Gutenberg

Another valid argument against extreme fineness of the stone used in liberal applications is the danger of loss by leaching.

From Project Gutenberg

The leaching may carry radionuclides elsewhere, however, possibly causing mild contamination of the water table.

From Project Gutenberg

Organic manures must be protected against the escape of their ammonia and the leaching out of their soluble parts.

From Project Gutenberg