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
Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Jan. 2025
Cinnamon comes from the inner bark of certain trees, and heavy metals like lead, naturally present in the Earth’s crust, can leach into the bark through contaminated soil or groundwater.
—Fran Kritz, Verywell Health, 11 Dec. 2024
Traditional mining operations like lithium and copper consume huge amounts of water, both through mining and ore extraction, which involves leaching the bits of lithium with sulfuric acid.
—Debra Utacia Krol, The Arizona Republic, 8 Nov. 2024
Don't microwave food in disposable containers; chemicals are more likely to leach out of packaging products into food when heated.
—Becky Upham, EverydayHealth.com, 20 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for leach 
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Verb
Additionally, mattresses can leach harmful chemicals into the ground if placed in a landfill.
—Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Jan. 2025
Cinnamon comes from the inner bark of certain trees, and heavy metals like lead, naturally present in the Earth’s crust, can leach into the bark through contaminated soil or groundwater.
—Fran Kritz, Verywell Health, 11 Dec. 2024
Traditional mining operations like lithium and copper consume huge amounts of water, both through mining and ore extraction, which involves leaching the bits of lithium with sulfuric acid.
—Debra Utacia Krol, The Arizona Republic, 8 Nov. 2024
Don't microwave food in disposable containers; chemicals are more likely to leach out of packaging products into food when heated.
—Becky Upham, EverydayHealth.com, 20 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for leach
Dictionary Entries Near leach
Cite this Entry
“Leach.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leach. Accessed 18 Jan. 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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