leach

¹ American  

[leech] / litʃ /

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.

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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 American  

[leech] / litʃ /

noun

Nautical.

1. leech.

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leach ¹ British  

/ 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

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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 ² British  

/ liːtʃ /

noun

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

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leach ³ British  

/ liːtʃ /

noun

1. a variant spelling of leech 2

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Other Word Forms

• leachability noun
• leachable adjective
• leacher noun
• unleached adjective

Etymology

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

Example Sentences

So noxious that it leached into the soil.

From Literature

“Underground and in-situ leach mining operations are also less exposed to diesel supply risks.”

From The Wall Street Journal

“Underground and in-situ leach mining operations are also less exposed to diesel supply risks.”

From The Wall Street Journal

“We believe investors should wait to see more definitive results from wider spaced leach trials first before making an investment decision,” Macquarie says.

From The Wall Street Journal

The material is then leached into a wine‑red liquid, filtered, evaporated and finally transformed into a fine white powder -- lithium.

From Barron's