leach out

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A phrase for a substance being dissolved and carried away from a material by water or another liquid.

Examples

  • Some colors leach out of the fabric during repeated washing.
  • Acidic liquid helped leach out copper from the crushed ore.
  • Chemicals may leach out of old plastic containers.
  • The filter is designed to stop metals from leaching out into the water.
  • Too much irrigation can leach out fertilizer before plants use it.

Similar words

dissolve out
percolate out
drain out
extract
wash out
be carried away
seep out

Meanings

Usage

Use the phrase when the liquid is the carrier and the moved substance is dissolved or washed away. For ordinary escaping gas, dripping water, or a broken pipe, leak out is usually the better verb.

Common mistakes

Leech out is a spelling error unless the context is literally about leeches. Leach out belongs with soluble substances, soil nutrients, contaminants, dyes, metals, and similar material carried away by liquid.

Etymology

From the verb leach, used for removing a soluble substance by passing liquid through a material. The particle out highlights the direction of movement, the substance leaves the original material or container.

FAQ

What does leach out mean?

It means to be dissolved, washed, or carried out of a material by water or another liquid.

What can leach out?

Nutrients, metals, chemicals, dyes, salts, and contaminants can leach out of soil, waste, plastics, fabrics, or rock.

Is leach out the same as leak out?

No. Leak out means escape from a hole or opening. Leach out usually means dissolve into a liquid and be carried away.

Is leach out technical?

It is common in technical fields like chemistry, agriculture, and environmental science, but it also appears in ordinary safety and product discussions.

Do you say leach or leech?

The correct spelling for substances being washed out is leach. Leech is the blood-sucking animal or a verb meaning to take from someone.

What is a synonym for leach out?

Possible synonyms include wash out, dissolve out, seep out, percolate out, drain out, and be carried away.

How do you use leach out in a sentence?

For example: Rainwater can leach out nutrients from sandy soil.

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