I.
variant of leech
II. ˈlēch noun
( -es )
Etymology: in sense 1, probably alteration of letch (I) ; in other senses, from leach (III)
1.
a. : a perforated vessel to hold wood ashes through which water is passed to extract the lye
b. : a pit or tub in which ooze is made by steeping tanbark in water
2.
a. : leachate
b. : the saturated brine that is drained from the salt or left in the pan when the salt is drawn out
3. : the process or an instance of leaching
is about 60° F. for the last leach — R.N.Shreve
III. verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
transitive verb
1.
a. : to subject to the action of percolating water or other liquid in order to separate the soluble components : lixiviate
leach an ore
— compare extract 1e
b. : to dissolve out by the action of a percolating liquid — often used with out
leach out alkali from ashes
— compare extract 1d
c.
(1) : to remove nutritive or harmful elements from (soil) by percolation
soil leached of its salts by torrential rains
(2) : to remove (nutritive or harmful elements) from soil by percolation — often used with out
leached out the beneficial nutrients — Harper's
leaching excess salt out of the soil — D.W.Israelsen
2. : to draw out or remove as if by percolation
the evil … is leached out of him — I.L.Salomon
: draw out or remove something from as if by percolation
the teeth of women during pregnancy are not leached of their lime salts — F.L.Hise
intransitive verb
: to pass out or through by percolation
will not leach out of the wood with rainwater — Monsanto Magazine