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| leech [ leech ] |
noun (plural leech·es) |
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| Definition: |
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1. blood-sucking worm: a worm that sucks blood or eats flesh. One species has been used in medical treatments to bleed patients or to eat away putrid flesh from a wound. Native to: warm shallow fresh water. Class Hirudinea.
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2. exploiter of others: somebody who clings to or exploits somebody else, e.g. for financial support
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3.
(
archaic informal
)
Same as physician
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verb (past and past participle leeched, present participle leech·ing, 3rd person present singular leech·es) |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive verb drain off something: to draw off or deplete a supply of something
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2. transitive verb medicine treat somebody with leeches: to bleed a patient using leeches
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3. intransitive verb exploit somebody: to cling to or take advantage of somebody, e.g. for financial support
(
informal
)
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| [ Old English lǣce] |
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  leech·like adjective |
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