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.

leach

¹

/ 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

²

/ liːtʃ /

noun

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

leach

³

/ liːtʃ /

noun

1. a variant spelling of leech 2

Other Word Forms

• leachable adjective
• leachability noun
• leacher noun
• unleached 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

Regular tests show surface water in the Faughan is not affected, but groundwater under the landfill is polluted and the aim is to prevent this leaching into the river.

From BBC

Despite the benefits of plastic to almost every sector, scientists are particularly concerned about potentially toxic chemicals they contain, which can leach out as plastics break down into smaller pieces.

From BBC

With rare earths, it's not so much about the mining footprint, rather the processing that is a dirty business – because it involves extraction, leaching, thermal cracking and refining which produce radioactive components.

From BBC

They found the most heavily contaminated nurdles were those burnt in the fire, which leach metals toxic to aquatic life, like arsenic, lead, cadmium, copper, cobalt and nickel.

From BBC

"And the rusting metal in there is starting to leach. The iron and nickel and copper is leaching out over the rocks and it looks unsightly."

From BBC