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
Karina Atkins, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2024
Most of these holding ponds are earthen pits, with no liner to prevent the coal ash’s toxins from leaching into the groundwater.
—Jared Sullivan, TIME, 30 Oct. 2024
Romance, which depends on risk, has been leaching out of baseball for a while now.
—Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2024
Even after bad water is flushed out, chemicals can leach from the plastic and make the water unsafe for weeks to months.
—Andrew J. Whelton, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for leach 
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Verb
Mining can also leach harmful chemicals into local water systems.
—Karina Atkins, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2024
Most of these holding ponds are earthen pits, with no liner to prevent the coal ash’s toxins from leaching into the groundwater.
—Jared Sullivan, TIME, 30 Oct. 2024
Romance, which depends on risk, has been leaching out of baseball for a while now.
—Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2024
Even after bad water is flushed out, chemicals can leach from the plastic and make the water unsafe for weeks to months.
—Andrew J. Whelton, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 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 17 Nov. 2024.
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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