leech
leech Lexical Profile
leech Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A segmented, mostly aquatic worm of the subclass Hirudinea, typically having a sucker at each end and often feeding on the blood of vertebrates.
"After wading through the tropical marsh, the biologist found a leech firmly attached to his ankle."
A person who extorts profit from or sponges on others, exploiting them for material or financial gain.
"He finally cut ties with the opportunistic leech who had been draining his savings for years."
An archaic term for a physician or healer, particularly one who practiced the medical procedure of bloodletting.
"The royal leech was summoned to the king's bedchamber to treat his sudden and severe fever."
• verb
To exploit someone by habitually extracting money, resources, or energy from them.
"Instead of finding a job, he spent years leeching off his wealthy parents."
To treat a medical condition by applying leeches to bleed the patient (archaic medical practice).
"In medieval times, barbers and physicians would commonly leech their patients in an attempt to balance the body's humors."
Word Nuance & Usage
Often confused with its homophone 'leach', which means to drain or filter minerals through a porous substance. 'Leech' specifically refers to the bloodsucking worm or a person who exploits others for resources.
• Rhymes for leech
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'lǣce' meaning 'physician'. The bloodsucking worm was given this name in late Old English due to its widespread use by healers for bloodletting.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.