leech

/li:tʃ/
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leech

A leech attaches itself to a swimmer's leg in the pond.

Definition

  1. Noun:

    • A bloodsucking worm: A leech is a type of parasitic worm, often aquatic, that attaches to a host to suck blood. It has a sucker at each end of its body.
    • A person who exploits others: (Figurative) A leech is someone who clings to another person, draining their resources, energy, or money without giving anything in return.

  2. Verb:

    • To drain or exploit: To act like a leech; to cling to someone and exhaust their resources.
    • To apply leeches medically: (Historical/Medical) To treat someone by applying leeches to draw blood, a practice once common in medicine.
Examples
  • Noun (Animal):
    • After wading in the pond, he found a leech on his leg.
    • Leeches are sometimes used in modern medicine to improve blood flow.
  • Noun (Person):
    • He's a financial leech who has been living off his brother's generosity for years.
    • She finally cut ties with friends who were emotional leeches.
  • Verb (To exploit):
    • He leeched off his parents' savings until there was nothing left.
    • The corrupt official leeched the wealth from the community.
  • Verb (Medical):
    • In the 19th century, doctors would often leech patients to treat fevers.
Advanced Usage
  • "To leech onto someone/something": To attach oneself to a person or system in a persistent, parasitic manner.
    • The invasive vine leeched onto the ancient oak tree, slowly killing it.
    • Unscrupulous advisors leeched onto the young heir, seeking to control his fortune.
Variants and Related Words
  • Leech-like (adj): Resembling or characteristic of a leech, especially in being parasitic or clinging.
    • His leech-like dependence on his family was unhealthy.
  • Bloodsucker (n): Literal synonym for the worm; also a figurative term for an exploitative person.
  • Parasite (n): A broader biological and figurative term for an organism or person that lives off another.
Synonyms
  • Noun (Person): Parasite, sponge, freeloader, hanger-on, moocher.
  • Verb (To exploit): Drain, bleed, sponge, freeload, exploit.
Related Phrasal Verbs
  • Leech off (someone): To exploit someone financially or emotionally over time.
    • He has no job and just leeches off his roommate.
Related Idioms
  • Stick like a leech: To cling to someone or something with tenacious persistence.
    • The scandal stuck to the politician like a leech, ruining his career.
leech

A leech attaches itself to a swimmer's leg in the pond.

Noun
  1. a follower who hangs around a host (without benefit to the host) in hope of gain or advantage
  2. carnivorous or bloodsucking aquatic or terrestrial worms typically having a sucker at each end
Verb
  1. draw blood
    • In the old days, doctors routinely bled patients as part of the treatment

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