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
Sarah Henry, AZCentral.com, 1 Mar. 2026
The sulfuric acid is recovered and can be circulated back upstream to leach more brine from the raw feed material.
—IEEE Spectrum, 26 Feb. 2026
The effort was in large part a response to the catastrophe that befell Flint, Michigan, a decade ago when dangerous levels of lead leached into the city’s water supply from old lead pipes, exposing people across the city to the toxic metal.
—Suzanne King, Kansas City Star, 25 Feb. 2026
Nitrogen is the primary nutrient that grass needs for growth, but it can easily be leached out of the soil during heavy rainfall, says Eric Nieusma, co-owner of Maine Hill Farm.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 21 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for leach
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Verb
Residents worried that car tires grinding over it would cause heavy metals to leach out.
—Sarah Henry, AZCentral.com, 1 Mar. 2026
The sulfuric acid is recovered and can be circulated back upstream to leach more brine from the raw feed material.
—IEEE Spectrum, 26 Feb. 2026
The effort was in large part a response to the catastrophe that befell Flint, Michigan, a decade ago when dangerous levels of lead leached into the city’s water supply from old lead pipes, exposing people across the city to the toxic metal.
—Suzanne King, Kansas City Star, 25 Feb. 2026
Nitrogen is the primary nutrient that grass needs for growth, but it can easily be leached out of the soil during heavy rainfall, says Eric Nieusma, co-owner of Maine Hill Farm.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 21 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for leach
Cite this Entry
“Leach.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leach. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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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