leech
Leech (noun) means a blood-sucking worm that lives in water, sometimes used medicinally. Example: “A leech attached itself to his leg while wading through the pond.”
How to use leech
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA parasitic worm, or — as an insult — someone who freeloads off others.
Word forms
leeched past tense, leeched past tense, leeches plural, leeches plural, leeches plural, Leeches plural, leeches singular, leeches singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ attached itself to his leg while wading through the pond.
Etymology
From Old English lǣċe, "blood-sucking worm" — the same root gave Old English the word for "physician," since leeches were once a common medical treatment.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for leech
See all rhymes for leech →Frequently asked questions
What does “leech” mean?
The word “leech” means a blood-sucking worm that lives in water, sometimes used medicinally. In plain terms, a parasitic worm, or — as an insult — someone who freeloads off others.
How do you pronounce “leech”?
“Leech” is pronounced LEECH (/ˈliːt͡ʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “leech” in a sentence?
Here is “leech” used in a sentence: “A leech attached itself to his leg while wading through the pond.”
What is another word for “leech”?
Words with a similar meaning to “leech” include sponger, bloodsucker and vampire.
What part of speech is “leech”?
Depending on how it is used, “leech” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “leech” come from?
The word “leech” comes from Old English. From Old English lǣċe, "blood-sucking worm" — the same root gave Old English the word for "physician," since leeches were once a common medical treatment.
Is “leech” a common word?
“Leech” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “leech” have?
“Leech” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a blood-sucking worm that lives in water, sometimes used medicinally.