leach
UK[liːtʃ]US[liːtʃ]
v
To remove a substance from a material by making a liquid pass through it.
v
To be removed from a material by the action of a percolating liquid.
Etymology
The verb 'leach' originates from the Old English word leccan, meaning "to moisten, water, or irrigate." This Old English term is related to the concept of making something wet or allowing liquid to pass through. The modern, more specialized meaning—to extract a soluble substance by percolation—developed in the late 17th century, particularly within the contexts of chemistry, agriculture, and soil science. The core logic of the word has consistently revolved around the action of a liquid passing through a substance, evolving from the general idea of wetting to the specific technical process of separation.
Analysis
The word 'leach' is a simplex word of Old English origin. It does not contain separable modern morphemes within its current spelling.
Examples
Heavy rain can leach essential nutrients from the soil.
The chemicals began to leach from the landfill into the groundwater.
They used a simple process to leach the salt from the ashes.