leach

Dissolve through soil

To leach is to drain away by percolation—water passing through soil leaches minerals from it, carrying them elsewhere.

The word extends to any gradual extraction or loss: Nutrients leach from overcooked vegetables.

Years of neglect had leached the color from the curtains.

A leach is also a perforated container used in this process.

Not to be confused with leech, the bloodsucking worm.

extraction

percolate

Filter through gradually

drain · siphon · extract · wash · rinse · solvent · solution · aqueous · separation · solute

soil

percolation

Liquid passing through pores

contamination · fertilizer · nitrates · pesticides · erosion · topsoil · drainage · aquifer · rainwater · agriculture

deplete

drain

Channel for wastewater

  • sapPlant circulatory fluid
  • exhaustUse up entirely
  • stripNarrow elongated piece

bleed · draw · remove · lose · diminish · weaken · erode · dissipate · deprive · empty

mining

ore

Metal-bearing rock

  • heapJumbled collection of items
  • vatLarge liquid container
  • cyanideToxic carbon-nitrogen compound

acid · gold · copper · uranium · tailings · extraction · recovery · dump · sulfuric · metal

Categories
Opposites
direction of substance movement

leachabsorb

Take in fully

infuse · saturate · impregnate · deposit · permeate

retention vs. loss

leachretain

Keep possession of

hold · keep · preserve · seal · trap

Phrases
Family

bleach, bleached, bleaching, bleachers, bleacher, leaches, leaching, leached, leachate

Familiarity
Top 200,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Everyday, not technical · Rated G