leech (noun)

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• leech — ► NOUN 1) a parasitic or predatory worm with suckers at both ends, formerly used in medicine for bloodletting. 2) a person who extorts profit from or lives off others. ► VERB (leech on/off) ▪ habitually exploit or rely on. ORIGIN Old English …   English terms dictionary

• leech´like´ — leech1 «leech», noun, verb. –n. 1. a worm, living especially in ponds and streams, that sucks the blood of animals. There is usually a sucker at each end of the body. Doctors formerly used leeches to suck blood from sick people. Leeches are… …   Useful english dictionary

• leech — I. /litʃ / (say leech) noun 1. any of the bloodsucking or carnivorous, usually aquatic, worms constituting the class Hirudinea, certain freshwater species of which were formerly much used by physicians for bloodletting and now occasionally used… …  

• leech line — noun Etymology: leech (III) : a line attached to the middle of the leech of a sail and used to haul the leech up to the yard * * * Naut. a line for hauling the middle of a leech of a square sail up to the yard. Cf. leech rope. [1620 30] …   Useful english dictionary

• leech rope — noun Etymology: leech (III) : the part of the boltrope that is sewed to the leech of a sail * * * Naut. a boltrope along a leech. [1760 70] …   Useful english dictionary

• leech line — noun A line for tightening the leech of a triangular mainsail to prevent it from fluttering …   Wiktionary

• leech — [ litʃ ] noun count 1. ) a small soft creature that sticks to the skin of other animals in order to feed on their blood. Leeches were often used in the past as a type of medical treatment. 2. ) someone who tries to get money, food, or other… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

• leech-finger — noun finger next to little finger Syn: gold finger, marriage finger, medical finger, medicinable finger, medicinal finger, physic finger, physical finger, physician f …   Wiktionary

• leech — noun (C) 1 a small soft creature that fixes itself to the skin of animals in order to drink their blood 2 someone who takes advantage of other people, usually by taking their money, food etc 3 old use a doctor …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

• leech — noun the welfare system is supposed to help the needy, not to feed the leeches Syn: parasite, bloodsucker; informal scrounger, sponger, bottom feeder, freeloader …   Thesaurus of popular words

• leech — leech1 noun 1》 a parasitic or predatory annelid worm with suckers at both ends, examples of which were formerly used in medicine for bloodletting. [Hirudo medicinalis (medicinal leech) and other species, class Hirudinea.] 2》 a person who extorts… …   English new terms dictionary