leach

¹

[ leech ]

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.

verb (used without object)

1. (of ashes, soil, etc.) to undergo the action of percolating water.
2. to percolate, as water.

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.

leach

²

[ leech ]

noun

, Nautical.

1. leech ³.

Leach

¹

/ liːtʃ /

noun

1. LeachBernard (Howell)18871979MBritishHong KongARTS AND CRAFTS: potter Bernard ( Howell ). 1887–1979, British potter, born in Hong Kong

leach

²

/ liːtʃ /

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 percolate

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

leach

³

/ liːtʃ /

noun

1. a variant spelling of leech 2

Derived Forms

• ˈleacher, noun

Other Words From

• leacha·ble adjective
• leacha·bili·ty noun
• leacher noun
• un·leached adjective

Word History and Origins

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of leach¹

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

Example Sentences

Lui said studies have shown that toxic chemicals can leach out of children’s toys and into their saliva if they put the products in their mouth.

From Los Angeles Times

There’s still more work to be done to learn the extent to which retardants leach into waterways and how much they contribute to these elevated metal levels, West said.

From Los Angeles Times

Over time, as these pipes have corroded, they have leached lead — a chemical with no safe level of exposure — into tap water.

From Los Angeles Times

All along the central path through the village, houses lay demolished; piles of rubble leaching glimpses of family life.

From BBC

They sometimes disparaged them, especially over plans that would leach money from their own pockets, but I never once heard the word "hate," even behind closed doors.

From Salon