leech
noun (1)
\ ˈlēch
\
\
Definition of leech
(Entry 1 of 3)
2
[ 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
3
: a hanger-on who seeks advantage or gain
a celebrity surrounded by leeches who only want his money
leech
verb
leeched;
leeching;
leeches
Definition of leech (Entry 2 of 3)
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
: 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
leech
noun (2)
\ ˈlēch
\
\
variants:
or less commonly leach
Definition of leech (Entry 3 of 3)
1
: either vertical edge of a square sail
2
: the after edge of a fore-and-aft sail
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Other Words from leech
Noun (1)
leechlike
\ ˈlēch-ˌlīk
\
adjective
\
adjective
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More Definitions for leech
leech
noun
\ ˈlēch
\
\
Kids Definition of leech
1
: a bloodsucking worm related to the earthworm
2
: a person who stays around other people and uses them for personal gain
leech
noun
\ ˈlēch
\
\
Medical Definition of leech
(Entry 1 of 2)
: 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
transitive verbKeep scrolling for more