Definition

1. Noun:

   • The process of extracting a substance from a solid material by dissolving it in a liquid: "leach" refers to the action or process of removing soluble constituents from a substance by the percolation of a liquid.

2. Verb (transitive):

   • To remove substances from a solid by causing a liquid to percolate through it: This action involves draining away or extracting soluble matter.
   • To cause (a liquid) to percolate through something: To subject a liquid to the leaching process.

3. Verb (intransitive):

   • (Of a substance) to be removed or dissolved by percolating liquid: Describes the passive process where material is extracted.
   • (Of a liquid) to percolate through a substance and dissolve parts of it: Describes the action of the liquid itself.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The leach of minerals from the soil can affect plant growth.
  • Scientists studied the chemical leach from the landfill.

• Verb (transitive):

  • Heavy rain can leach nutrients from the farmland.
  • The laboratory procedure is designed to leach the metal from the ore.

• Verb (intransitive):

  • Over time, the salt will leach out of the bricks.
  • The dye from the fabric might leach into the wash water.

Advanced Usage

• "to leach away": to be removed or lost gradually by the action of a percolating liquid.
  • The soil's fertility is leaching away due to erosion and poor management.
• "to leach out": (often used with 'out') to remove or be removed by leaching.
  • The contaminants are slowly leaching out into the groundwater.

Variants and Related Words

• Leachable (adj): capable of being leached.
  • The mineral is highly leachable in acidic conditions.
• Leachate (n): a liquid that has percolated through a solid and leached out some of the constituents.
  • The landfill must manage its toxic leachate.
• Leaching (n/gerund): the process of leaching.
  • The leaching of nitrates is a major environmental concern.

Synonyms

• Percolate: (of a liquid) to filter gradually through a porous surface.
• Lixiviate: a technical synonym meaning to separate a substance into soluble and insoluble components via percolation.
• Filter: to pass a liquid through a device to remove solid particles (related but not identical, as filtering often aims to remove solids, while leaching aims to remove soluble components from a solid).

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Leach out: (as above) to be removed or to remove by the process of leaching.
  • The chemicals began to leach out of the treated wood.

Related Idioms

(Note: "Leach" is a technical/scientific term and is not commonly used in idiomatic expressions. Its usage is primarily literal.)

Noun

1. the process of leaching

Verb

1. remove substances from by a percolating liquid
   • leach the soil
2. permeate or penetrate gradually
   • the fertilizer leached into the ground
3. cause (a liquid) to leach or percolate