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
Stephanie Hanes, Christian Science Monitor, 18 Apr. 2025
There were tremendous failures by these and other colleges nationwide to protect Jews on campus from anti-Israel protests that leached into intimidation, harassment and threats against Jewish students and Jewish faculty and staff.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 15 Apr. 2025
The toxins can leach into groundwater, contaminating wells.
—David Kitchen, The Conversation, 15 Apr. 2025
This salt can leach into watersheds when snow melts.
—Ars Technica, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for leach
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Verb
Processing them has traditionally required toxic, highly corrosive substances that can leach into waterways and soil.
—Stephanie Hanes, Christian Science Monitor, 18 Apr. 2025
There were tremendous failures by these and other colleges nationwide to protect Jews on campus from anti-Israel protests that leached into intimidation, harassment and threats against Jewish students and Jewish faculty and staff.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 15 Apr. 2025
The toxins can leach into groundwater, contaminating wells.
—David Kitchen, The Conversation, 15 Apr. 2025
This salt can leach into watersheds when snow melts.
—Ars Technica, 19 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 9 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share