leech

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈlēch

plural leeches

[from its former use by physicians for bleeding patients] : any of numerous carnivorous or bloodsucking usually freshwater annelid worms (class Hirudinea) that have typically a flattened lanceolate segmented body with a sucker at each end

: a hanger-on who seeks advantage or gain

a celebrity surrounded by leeches who only want his money

archaic : physician, surgeon

leechlike

ˈlēch-ˌlīk How to pronounce leech (audio)

adjective

leech

2 of 3

verb

leeched; leeching; leeches

intransitive verb

: to attach oneself to a person as a leech

… she would leech on to him and drain the life out of him.

W. L. Gresham

transitive verb

: to bleed by the use of leeches

: to drain the substance of : exhaust

… bankers who had always leeched them white.

D. A. Munro

leech

3 of 3

noun (2)

ˈlēch

variants or less commonly leach

: either vertical edge of a square sail

: the after edge of a fore-and-aft sail

Medical Definition

leech 1 of 2

noun

ˈlēch

: any of numerous carnivorous or bloodsucking annelid worms that comprise the class Hirudinea, that typically have a flattened segmented lance-shaped body with well-marked external annulations, a sucker at each end, a mouth within the anterior sucker, and a large stomach with pouches of large capacity at the sides, that are hermaphroditic usually with direct development, and that occur chiefly in freshwater although a few are marine and some tropical forms are terrestrial see medicinal leech

leech

2 of 2

transitive verb

: to treat as a physician : cure, heal

: to bleed by the use of leeches

单词	leeches
释义	leech 1 of 3 noun (1) ˈlēch plural leeches 1 [from its former use by physicians for bleeding patients] : any of numerous carnivorous or bloodsucking usually freshwater annelid worms (class Hirudinea) that have typically a flattened lanceolate segmented body with a sucker at each end 2 : a hanger-on who seeks advantage or gain a celebrity surrounded by leeches who only want his money 3 archaic : physician, surgeon leechlike ˈlēch-ˌlīk adjective leech 2 of 3 verb leeched; leeching; leeches intransitive verb : to attach oneself to a person as a leech … she would leech on to him and drain the life out of him. W. L. Gresham transitive verb 1 : to bleed by the use of leeches 2 : to drain the substance of : exhaust … bankers who had always leeched them white. D. A. Munro leech 3 of 3 noun (2) ˈlēch variants or less commonly leach 1 : either vertical edge of a square sail 2 : the after edge of a fore-and-aft sail Synonyms Noun (1) bloodsucker freeloader free rider hanger-on moocher parasite sponge sponger See all Synonyms & Antonyms Word History Etymology Noun (1) and Verb Middle English leche, from Old English lǣce; akin to Old High German lāhhi physician Noun (2) Middle English leche; akin to Middle Low German līk boltrope First Known Use Noun (1) before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3 Verb 1641, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1 Noun (2) 15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Phrases Containing leech medicinal leech medicinal leech Kids Definition leech noun ˈlēch 1 : a bloodsucking worm related to the earthworm 2 : a person who stays around other people and uses them for personal gain Medical Definition leech 1 of 2 noun ˈlēch : any of numerous carnivorous or bloodsucking annelid worms that comprise the class Hirudinea, that typically have a flattened segmented lance-shaped body with well-marked external annulations, a sucker at each end, a mouth within the anterior sucker, and a large stomach with pouches of large capacity at the sides, that are hermaphroditic usually with direct development, and that occur chiefly in freshwater although a few are marine and some tropical forms are terrestrial see medicinal leech leech 2 of 2 transitive verb 1 : to treat as a physician : cure, heal 2 : to bleed by the use of leeches leeches 1 of 2 noun plural of leech as in parasites a person who is supported by or seeks support from another without making an adequate return whenever the gang went out for pizza, the leech in the group always had an excuse for not paying his fair share Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance parasites sponges freeloaders spongers bloodsuckers moochers henchmen dependents hangers-on free riders deadbeats misers sycophants toadies lackeys idlers flunkeys satellites tightwads skinflints cheapskates stooges pikers scrooges flunkies niggards yes-men Antonyms & Near Antonyms benefactors supporters philanthropists leeches 2 of 2 verb present tense third-person singular of leech as in sponges Synonyms & Similar Words sponges freeloads mooches exploits uses begs
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leech

noun (1)

verb

noun (2)

Synonyms

Word History

Phrases Containing leech

Kids Definition

noun

Medical Definition

noun

transitive verb

noun

verb