| part of speech: |
transitive verb |
| inflections: |
leaches, leaching, leached |
| definition 1: |
to extract (soluble matter) by means of a percolating liquid.
All the valuable minerals were leached from the soil. |
| definition 2: |
to remove soluble matter from (a substance) by percolation.
The machine leaches ore. |
| definition 3: |
to pass or percolate (a liquid) through something, such as soil or rock.
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| related words: |
filter |
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| part of speech: |
intransitive verb |
| definition 1: |
of a mineral, to be extracted or dissolved by a percolating liquid.
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| definition 2: |
to yield or give up soluble matter by the same process.
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| definition 3: |
to pass or percolate through something, such as water or other liquids.
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| part of speech: |
noun |
| definition 1: |
the act or process of percolating a liquid through a substance to remove the soluble constituents.
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| definition 2: |
the permeable container or vessel used in such a process.
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| definition 3: |
the substance through which percolating liquid is passed, or the material extracted by percolation.
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| related words: |
filter |
| derivations: |
leachable (adj.), leachability (n.) |