Leeched: meaning, definitions and examples
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leeched
[ liːtʃt ]
drain resources
To leech means to draw out or drain resources, often in a parasitic manner. It can refer to taking something essential from a person, group, or environment without giving anything in return. The term is commonly used to describe situations where one entity exploits another for its advantage. Additionally, it can apply to substances being absorbed through a medium or through natural processes. The term finds precedence in biological contexts, relating to leeches, which are parasitic organisms that suck blood from their hosts.
Synonyms
absorb, drain, exploit, extract, siphon
Examples of usage
- The company leeches profits from its workers.
- He felt his friend was leeching off his success.
- The invasive species leeches nutrients from the lake.
- They were leeching financial support from the government.
absorb liquid
In a more scientific context, leeching refers to the process where a liquid is drained from soil, sediment, or another medium through the action of water or other solvents. This can impact the nutrient cycles in ecosystems. It is also utilized in environmental science to describe how toxins can leach out of waste materials into groundwater. Such processes are critical for understanding soil health and pollutant behavior in various ecosystems.
Synonyms
drain, filter, percolate, seep
Examples of usage
- The chemicals leached into the groundwater.
- These materials could leach toxins into the soil.
- The leaching process affected the plant growth.
- Excessive rainfall can lead to leaching of nutrients.
Translations
Translations of the word "leeched" in other languages:
🇵🇹 sugado
🇮🇳 सुखाया हुआ
🇩🇪 ausgesogen
🇮🇩 disedot
🇺🇦 висмоктаний
🇵🇱 wysysany
🇯🇵 吸い取られた
🇫🇷 sucé
🇪🇸 sacado
🇹🇷 emilmiş
🇰🇷 빨아들여진
🇸🇦 مستنزف
🇨🇿 vysátý
🇸🇰 vysatý
🇨🇳 被吸干的
🇸🇮 izčrpano
🇮🇸 sogið
🇰🇿 сорып алынған
🇬🇪 გამომშვენებული
🇦🇿 sorulmuş
🇲🇽 extraído
Etymology
The word 'leech' originates from the Old English 'læce', meaning 'physician' or 'healer', a term derived from the Proto-Germanic *laikaz, which means 'to be strong' or 'to heal'. Over time, the meaning shifted to also refer to the bloodsucking worms, known for their medicinal use in the past to drain blood from patients for therapeutic purposes. The verb form, 'to leech', gradually developed to convey the sense of drawing away or draining life forces or resources rather than referring solely to the act of bloodletting. This dual meaning has persisted into modern English, where it often carries a negative connotation associated with exploitation.