What does "leech" mean?
An aquatic blood-sucking annelid of subclass Hirudinea, especially Hirudo medicinalis.
Leech
name, noun, verb
name, noun, verb ·1 syllable ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An aquatic blood-sucking annelid of subclass Hirudinea, especially Hirudo medicinalis.
- Grammar: leech is listed as name, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: bloodsucker, sponger, parasite, adherent.
- Useful contrasts: benefactor, bittorrent, detach.
- Usage evidence: A more plausible proposal is the one Leech presented in conjunction with Emmet's theory.
How to use "leech"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "leech" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "leech" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "leech" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "leech" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
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- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "leech" is acting as name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "bloodsucker" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "leech", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An aquatic blood-sucking annelid of subclass Hirudinea, especially Hirudo medicinalis.
"The leech on his leg had swelled to more than five inches long, puffed and swollen on his blood."
- 2 A physician. archaic
"Many skillful leeches him abide to salve his hurts."
- 3 The vertical edge of a square sail.
"To help combat these problems, almost all sailmakers trim the leeches of their headsails to a hollow or concave profile and enclose a LEECHLINE within the leech tabling."
- 4 carnivorous or bloodsucking aquatic or terrestrial worms typically having a sucker at each end wordnet
- 5 A person who derives advantage from others in a parasitic fashion. figuratively
"'Wrecked his body and his mind, no use to hisself or his family or nobody, just a leech on society'."
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 A healer. Germanic
"Their functions are threefold, those of the medicine-man (the leech, or healer by supernatural means); of the soothsayer (the prophet through communion with the invisible world); and of the priest, especially in his capacity as exorcist"
- 7 The aft edge of a triangular sail.
"Trim the leech of the jib parallel to the main by watching the slot between the mainsail and the jib."
- 8 a follower who hangs around a host (without benefit to the host) in hope of gain or advantage wordnet
- 9 A glass tube designed for drawing blood from damaged tissue by means of a vacuum. dated
Verb
- 1 To apply a leech medicinally, so that it sucks blood from the patient. literally, transitive
"The poppy made him sleep and while he slept they leeched him to drain off the bad blood."
- 2 To treat, cure or heal. archaic, rare
"1564, Accounts of Louth Corporalː Paid for leeching.. my horses very sick."
- 3 draw blood wordnet
- 4 To drain (resources) without giving back. figuratively, transitive
"Near-synonyms: mooch, suck down"
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname originating as an occupation, derived from the profession leech, a former word for a physician.
Antonyms
Example
"A more plausible proposal is the one Leech presented in conjunction with Emmet's theory."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "leech"?
Common synonyms include: bloodsucker, sponger, parasite, adherent, adhesive, allopath.
How do you use "leech" in a sentence?
A more plausible proposal is the one Leech presented in conjunction with Emmet's theory.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English leche (“blood-sucking worm”), from Old English lǣċe (“blood-sucking worm”), akin to Middle Dutch lāke ("blood-sucking worm"; > modern Dutch laak).
Etymology 2
From Middle English leche (“physician”), from Old English lǣċe (“doctor, physician”), from Proto-West Germanic *lākī, from Proto-Germanic *lēkijaz (“doctor”), of disputed origin, but usually thought to be connected with Proto-Celtic (compare Old Irish líaig (“charmer, exorcist, physician”)); perhaps ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *leǵ- (“to collect, gather”). Cognate with Old Frisian lētza (“physician”), Old Saxon lāki (“physician”), Old High German lāhhi (“doctor, healer”), Danish læge (“doctor, surgeon”), Gothic 𐌻𐌴𐌺𐌴𐌹𐍃 (lēkeis, “physician”). Slavic words such as Serbo-Croatian ljèkār, Polish lekarz (“physician, doctor”) are usually considered to be borrowings from Germanic.
Etymology 3
From Middle English lechen (“to cure, heal, treat”), from Middle English leche (“doctor, physician”). Compare Swedish läka (“to heal”).
Etymology 4
From Middle English lek, leche, lyche, from Old Norse lík (“leechline”), from Proto-West Germanic *līk, from Proto-Germanic *līką (compare West Frisian lyk (“band”), Dutch lijk (“boltrope”), Middle High German geleich (“joint, limb”)), from Proto-Indo-European *leyǵ- ‘to bind’ (compare Latin ligō (“tie, bind”), Ukrainian нали́гати (nalýhaty, “to bridle, fetter”), Albanian lidh (“to bind”), Hittite link- (caus. linganu-) ‘to swear’ (with -n- infix).
Etymology 5
* As an English surname, variant of Leach. * As an Irish surname, from Ó maol mhaodhóg; see Logue.