leach

views updated May 23 2018

leach / ch/ • v. [tr.] make (a soluble chemical or mineral) drain away from soil, ash, or similar material by the action of percolating liquid, esp. rainwater: the nutrient is quickly leached away. ∎  [intr.] (of a soluble chemical or mineral) drain away from soil, ash, etc., in this way: coats of varnish prevent the dye leaching out. ∎  [tr.] subject (soil, ash, etc.) to this process.

More From encyclopedia.com