leech

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈlēch

plural leeches

[from its former use by physicians for bleeding patients] : any of numerous carnivorous or bloodsucking usually freshwater annelid worms (class Hirudinea) that have typically a flattened lanceolate segmented body with a sucker at each end

: a hanger-on who seeks advantage or gain

a celebrity surrounded by leeches who only want his money

archaic : physician, surgeon

leechlike

ˈlēch-ˌlīk How to pronounce leech (audio)

adjective

leech

2 of 3

verb

leeched; leeching; leeches

intransitive verb

: to attach oneself to a person as a leech

… she would leech on to him and drain the life out of him.

W. L. Gresham

transitive verb

: to bleed by the use of leeches

: to drain the substance of : exhaust

… bankers who had always leeched them white.

D. A. Munro

leech

3 of 3

noun (2)

ˈlēch

variants or less commonly leach

: either vertical edge of a square sail

: the after edge of a fore-and-aft sail

Medical Definition

leech 1 of 2

noun

ˈlēch

: any of numerous carnivorous or bloodsucking annelid worms that comprise the class Hirudinea, that typically have a flattened segmented lance-shaped body with well-marked external annulations, a sucker at each end, a mouth within the anterior sucker, and a large stomach with pouches of large capacity at the sides, that are hermaphroditic usually with direct development, and that occur chiefly in freshwater although a few are marine and some tropical forms are terrestrial see medicinal leech

leech

2 of 2

transitive verb

: to treat as a physician : cure, heal

: to bleed by the use of leeches

leech 1 of 2

noun

as in parasite

a person who is supported by or seeks support from another without making an adequate return whenever the gang went out for pizza, the leech in the group always had an excuse for not paying his fair share

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

parasite
sponge
sponger
freeloader
moocher
bloodsucker
dependent
henchman
hanger-on
miser
free rider
idler
deadbeat
toady
sycophant
satellite
lackey
flunkey
cheapskate
niggard
flunkie
tightwad
scrooge
skinflint
piker
stooge
flunky
yes-man

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

benefactor
supporter
philanthropist

leech

2 of 2

verb

as in to sponge

Synonyms & Similar Words

sponge
freeload
mooch
exploit
beg
use

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of leech are parasite, sponge, sycophant, and toady. While all these words mean "a usually obsequious flatterer or self-seeker," leech stresses persistence in clinging to or bleeding another for one's own advantage.

a leech living off his family and friends

The words parasite and leech are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, parasite applies to one who clings to a person of wealth, power, or influence or is useless to society.

a jet-setter with an entourage of parasites

The synonyms sponge and leech are sometimes interchangeable, but sponge stresses the parasitic laziness, dependence, and opportunism of the cadger.

a shiftless sponge, always looking for a handout

The words sycophant and leech can be used in similar contexts, but sycophant adds to this a strong suggestion of fawning, flattery, or adulation.

a powerful prince surrounded by sycophants

In some situations, the words toady and leech are roughly equivalent. However, toady emphasizes the servility and snobbery of the self-seeker.

cultivated leaders of society and became their toady

单词	leech
释义	leech 1 of 3 noun (1) ˈlēch plural leeches 1 [from its former use by physicians for bleeding patients] : any of numerous carnivorous or bloodsucking usually freshwater annelid worms (class Hirudinea) that have typically a flattened lanceolate segmented body with a sucker at each end 2 : a hanger-on who seeks advantage or gain a celebrity surrounded by leeches who only want his money 3 archaic : physician, surgeon leechlike ˈlēch-ˌlīk adjective leech 2 of 3 verb leeched; leeching; leeches intransitive verb : to attach oneself to a person as a leech … she would leech on to him and drain the life out of him. W. L. Gresham transitive verb 1 : to bleed by the use of leeches 2 : to drain the substance of : exhaust … bankers who had always leeched them white. D. A. Munro leech 3 of 3 noun (2) ˈlēch variants or less commonly leach 1 : either vertical edge of a square sail 2 : the after edge of a fore-and-aft sail Synonyms Noun (1) bloodsucker freeloader free rider hanger-on moocher parasite sponge sponger See all Synonyms & Antonyms Word History Etymology Noun (1) and Verb Middle English leche, from Old English lǣce; akin to Old High German lāhhi physician Noun (2) Middle English leche; akin to Middle Low German līk boltrope First Known Use Noun (1) before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3 Verb 1641, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1 Noun (2) 15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Phrases Containing leech medicinal leech medicinal leech Kids Definition leech noun ˈlēch 1 : a bloodsucking worm related to the earthworm 2 : a person who stays around other people and uses them for personal gain Medical Definition leech 1 of 2 noun ˈlēch : any of numerous carnivorous or bloodsucking annelid worms that comprise the class Hirudinea, that typically have a flattened segmented lance-shaped body with well-marked external annulations, a sucker at each end, a mouth within the anterior sucker, and a large stomach with pouches of large capacity at the sides, that are hermaphroditic usually with direct development, and that occur chiefly in freshwater although a few are marine and some tropical forms are terrestrial see medicinal leech leech 2 of 2 transitive verb 1 : to treat as a physician : cure, heal 2 : to bleed by the use of leeches leech 1 of 2 noun as in parasite a person who is supported by or seeks support from another without making an adequate return whenever the gang went out for pizza, the leech in the group always had an excuse for not paying his fair share Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance parasite sponge sponger freeloader moocher bloodsucker dependent henchman hanger-on miser free rider idler deadbeat toady sycophant satellite lackey flunkey cheapskate niggard flunkie tightwad scrooge skinflint piker stooge flunky yes-man Antonyms & Near Antonyms benefactor supporter philanthropist leech 2 of 2 verb as in to sponge Synonyms & Similar Words sponge freeload mooch exploit beg use Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of leech are parasite, sponge, sycophant, and toady. While all these words mean "a usually obsequious flatterer or self-seeker," leech stresses persistence in clinging to or bleeding another for one's own advantage. a leech living off his family and friends The words parasite and leech are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, parasite applies to one who clings to a person of wealth, power, or influence or is useless to society. a jet-setter with an entourage of parasites The synonyms sponge and leech are sometimes interchangeable, but sponge stresses the parasitic laziness, dependence, and opportunism of the cadger. a shiftless sponge, always looking for a handout The words sycophant and leech can be used in similar contexts, but sycophant adds to this a strong suggestion of fawning, flattery, or adulation. a powerful prince surrounded by sycophants In some situations, the words toady and leech are roughly equivalent. However, toady emphasizes the servility and snobbery of the self-seeker. cultivated leaders of society and became their toady
随便看	pituitary pituitary fossa pituitary gland pituitary membrane pituitas pituites pituitous pituophes Pituophis pituophises pituophisses pituri pituris pitwood pitwork pitwright pity pitying pityinglier pityingliest pityingly Pitylus pitymyses pityocampa pityriases

leech

noun (1)

verb

noun (2)

Synonyms

Word History

Phrases Containing leech

Kids Definition

noun

Medical Definition

noun

transitive verb

noun

verb

Synonym Chooser