leech
Blood-feeding aquatic worm
A leech is a blood-sucking worm found in fresh water, historically used in medicine to draw blood from patients.
The word extends to anyone who clings to others and drains their resources: He's a leech who lives off his parents.
To leech is to exploit someone parasitically, or in computing, to download without contributing: She leeched the entire album without seeding.
Segmented worm phylum member
- segmentedDivided into sections
- invertebrateAnimal sans backbone
- bloodsuckerOrganism feeding on plasma
- freshwaterNon-saline aquatic environment
pond · wetland · slimy · aquatic · sucker · jaws · hermaphrodite · cocoon
Organism feeding on plasma
- parasiteOne exploiting a host
- freeloaderOne exploiting others' generosity
- moocherOne who cadges habitually
- spongeAbsorbent cleaning material
user · hanger-on · drain · exploit · dependent · clingy · manipulative · needy
Organism feeding on plasma
- hostOne receiving guests
- attachmentConnection or fondness
- bitePierce with teeth
- feedingGiving food to
engorged · anticoagulant · painless · anesthetic · wound · bleeding · infestation · ectoparasite
Therapeutic withdrawal of fluid
- anticoagulantSubstance preventing blood clots
- medicinalHaving healing properties
- phlebotomyExtracting blood medically
- microsurgeryMagnified procedures on minute structures
reattachment · hematoma · circulation · reconstructive · therapeutic · post-operative · grafts · drainage
Hold tightly to
Small still body
- freshwaterNon-saline aquatic environment
- wetlandWaterlogged land ecosystem
- swampWaterlogged land with vegetation
- marshGrassy waterlogged lowland
stream · tropical · rainforest · humid · aquatic · vegetation · muddy · riverbank
annelid
Segmented worm phylum member
- segmentedDivided into sections
- invertebrateAnimal sans backbone
- bloodsuckerOrganism feeding on plasma
freshwater · pond · wetland · slimy · aquatic · sucker · jaws · hermaphrodite · cocoon · sensory
bloodsucker
Organism feeding on plasma
- parasiteOne exploiting a host
- freeloaderOne exploiting others' generosity
- moocherOne who cadges habitually
sponge · user · hanger-on · drain · exploit · dependent · clingy · manipulative · needy · opportunist
bloodsucker
Organism feeding on plasma
- hostOne receiving guests
- attachmentConnection or fondness
- bitePierce with teeth
feeding · engorged · anticoagulant · painless · anesthetic · wound · bleeding · infestation · ectoparasite · skin
bloodletting
Therapeutic withdrawal of fluid
- anticoagulantSubstance preventing blood clots
- medicinalHaving healing properties
- phlebotomyExtracting blood medically
microsurgery · reattachment · hematoma · circulation · reconstructive · therapeutic · post-operative · grafts · drainage · pharmaceutical
cling
Hold tightly to
siphon · extract · latch · stick · adhere · deplete · exhaust
pond
Small still body
- freshwaterNon-saline aquatic environment
- wetlandWaterlogged land ecosystem
- swampWaterlogged land with vegetation
marsh · stream · tropical · rainforest · humid · aquatic · vegetation · muddy · riverbank · lake
- Animal Idiomsblind as a bat, brave as a lion, busy bee, copycat, dark horse
- blood feedersmosquito, tick, flea, louse, bedbug
- bloodsuckersmosquito, tick, flea, bedbug, louse
- bottom feederscatfish, loach, sturgeon, suckerfish, flounder
- freshwater lifecatfish, trout, bass, salmon, frog
- lake wildlifeperch, pike, bream, roach, eel
leechbenefactor
One who gives aid
philanthropist · giver · donor · supporter · provider
leechsymbiont
Organism sharing mutual benefit
mutualist · host · producer · pollinator · cleaner fish
leechself-starter
One with initiative
breadwinner · earner · producer · independent · self-made man
- leech therapyMedical use of bloodsucking worms
- medicinal leechBlood-drawing annelid for treatment