leach (redirected from leaches)

leach  (lch)

v. leached, leach·ing, leach·es

v.tr.

1. To remove soluble or other constituents from by the action of a percolating liquid.

2. To empty; drain: "a world leached of pleasure, voided of meaning" (Marilynne Robinson).

v.intr.

To be dissolved or passed out by a percolating liquid.

n.

1. The act or process of leaching.

2. A porous, perforated, or sievelike vessel that holds material to be leached.

3. The substance through which a liquid is leached.

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[From Middle English leche, leachate, from Old English *lece, muddy stream; akin to leccan, to moisten.]

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leacha·bili·ty n.

leacha·ble adj.

leacher n.

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leach

Verb

1. to remove or be removed from a substance by a liquid passing through it

2. to lose soluble substances by the action of a liquid passing through [perhaps Old English leccan to water]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	leach - the process of leaching leaching natural action, natural process, action, activity - a process existing in or produced by nature (rather than by the intent of human beings); "the action of natural forces"; "volcanic activity"
Verb	1.	leach - cause (a liquid) to leach or percolate remove, take away, withdraw, take - remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract; "remove a threat"; "remove a wrapper"; "Remove the dirty dishes from the table"; "take the gun from your pocket"; "This machine withdraws heat from the environment"
	2.	leach - permeate or penetrate gradually; "the fertilizer leached into the ground" percolate dribble, trickle, filter - run or flow slowly, as in drops or in an unsteady stream; "water trickled onto the lawn from the broken hose"; "reports began to dribble in"
	3.	leach - remove substances from by a percolating liquid; "leach the soil" strip remove, take away, withdraw, take - remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract; "remove a threat"; "remove a wrapper"; "Remove the dirty dishes from the table"; "take the gun from your pocket"; "This machine withdraws heat from the environment"

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leach

verb extract, strain, drain, filter, seep, percolate, filtrate, lixiviate Chemistry