leach

1 of 2

noun

less common spelling of leech

1
: either vertical edge of a square sail
2
: the after edge of a fore-and-aft sail

leach

2 of 2

verb

leached; leaching; leaches

transitive verb

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

intransitive verb

: to pass out or through by percolation
Nutrients leached out of the soil with rainwater.
leachability noun
leachable adjective
leacher noun

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
Verb
The toxic compounds inside them can also leach into the water, Donald said, potentially threatening marine biodiversity. Ellie Yuen, NBC News, 17 Oct. 2024 The BFRs could potentially leach into and stay in foods, especially those with a higher fat content. Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 5 Oct. 2024 An expert explains what surfactant leaching is, and how to get rid of it. Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Sep. 2024 Heat and time accelerate leaching Many of the chemicals in food packaging are ingredients in plastics and can be found in clothing, furniture and personal care products. Pien Huang, NPR, 21 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for leach 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'leach.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

leach vessel through which water is passed to extract lye

First Known Use

Verb

1796, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of leach was in 1796

Dictionary Entries Near leach

Cite this Entry

“Leach.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leach. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

leach

verb
ˈlēch
: to pass a liquid through to carry off the soluble components
also : to dissolve out by such means
leach minerals from rocks

Medical Definition

leach

transitive verb
1
: 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

intransitive verb

: to pass out or through by percolation
leachability noun
plural leachabilities
leachable adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on leach

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!