less common spelling of leech
1
: either vertical edge of a square sail
2
: the after edge of a fore-and-aft sail
leached; leaching; leaches
1
: to dissolve out by the action of a percolating liquid
leach out alkali from ashes
2
: to subject to the action of percolating (see percolate sense 1a) liquid (such as water) in order to separate the soluble components
3
a
: to remove (nutritive or harmful elements) from soil by percolation (see percolate sense 1a)
soil leached of its salts by torrential rains
b
: to draw out or remove as if by percolation
all meaning has been leached from my life
: to pass out or through by percolation
Nutrients leached out of the soil with rainwater.
Examples of leach in a Sentence
Verb
Even a small amount of rain can leach the toxic material from the soil.
Certain kinds of treated wood can leach chemicals into the soil.
The chemical eventually leaches away from the soil.
Recent Examples on the Web
Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2025
Broward and Miami-Dade counties have programs to convert septic systems, which fail and leach into waterways as seas rise, onto municipal sewer systems.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 7 Apr. 2025
During the breakdown process, PFAS can leach into the soil and water supply.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 21 Mar. 2025
This means that nitrogen can easily move with the water in the soil profile, whether in a container or your garden, and be transported out of the root zone, a process known as leaching.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for leach
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Verb
Environmental advocates and community members expressed concerns that the rollback could result in toxic dust blowing into communities near local landfills or dangerous chemicals leaching into groundwater.
—Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2025
Broward and Miami-Dade counties have programs to convert septic systems, which fail and leach into waterways as seas rise, onto municipal sewer systems.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 7 Apr. 2025
During the breakdown process, PFAS can leach into the soil and water supply.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 21 Mar. 2025
This means that nitrogen can easily move with the water in the soil profile, whether in a container or your garden, and be transported out of the root zone, a process known as leaching.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for leach
Cite this Entry
“Leach.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leach. Accessed 30 May. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
leach
transitive verb1
: to subject to the action of percolating liquid (as water) in order to separate the soluble components
2
: to dissolve out by the action of a percolating liquid
: to pass out or through by percolation
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