leach
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leach
to dissolve out substances; to percolate
Not to be confused with:
leech – bloodsucking worm; extortioner; sponger
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree
leach
(lēch)v. leached, leach·ing, leach·es
v.tr.
1. To remove soluble or other constituents from by the action of a percolating liquid: heavy rains that leached the soil of minerals.
2. To remove from a substance by the action of a percolating liquid: acids in groundwater that leach calcium out of the bedrock.
3. To empty; drain: "a world leached of pleasure, voided of meaning" (Marilynne Robinson).
v.intr.
To be dissolved or passed out by a percolating liquid.
n.
1. The act or process of leaching.
2. A porous, perforated, or sievelike vessel that holds material to be leached.
3. The substance through which a liquid is leached.
[From Middle English leche, leachate, from Old English *lece, muddy stream; akin to leccan, to moisten.]
leach′a·bil′i·ty n.
leach′a·ble adj.
leach′er n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
leach
(liːtʃ)vb
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
n
4. the act or process of leaching
5. a substance that is leached or the constituents removed by leaching
6. a porous vessel for leaching
[C17: variant of obsolete letch to wet, perhaps from Old English leccan to water; related to leak]
ˈleacher n
leach
(liːtʃ)n
(Nautical Terms) a variant spelling of leech2
Leach
(liːtʃ)n
(Biography) Bernard (Howell). 1887–1979, British potter, born in Hong Kong
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
leach
(litʃ)v.t.
1. to dissolve out soluble constituents from (ashes, soil, etc.) by percolation.
2. to cause (water or other liquid) to percolate through something.
v.i. 3. (of ashes, soil, etc.) to undergo the action of percolating water.
4. to percolate, as water.
n. 5. a leaching.
6. the material leached.
7. a vessel for use in leaching.
8. leachate.
[1425–75; late Middle English leche leachate, infusion]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
leach
(lēch) To remove the soluble materials from a substance, such as ash or rock, by passing a liquid through or over it: Heavy rains leached minerals from the soil.
The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
leach
Past participle: leached
Gerund: leaching
| Imperative |
|---|
| leach |
| leach |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. | leach - the process of leaching natural action, natural process, action, activity - a process existing in or produced by nature (rather than by the intent of human beings); "the action of natural forces"; "volcanic activity" |
| Verb | 1. | leach - cause (a liquid) to leach or percolate |
| 2. | leach - permeate or penetrate gradually; "the fertilizer leached into the ground" | |
| 3. | leach - remove substances from by a percolating liquid; "leach the soil" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
leach
verb extract, strain, drain, filter, seep, percolate, filtrate, lixiviate (Chemistry) Minerals leach from the soil much faster on cleared land.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
leach
verbThe American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
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