leech

/liːtʃ/
verb
  1. To drain or take away resources, money, or energy from someone or something, often in a harmful way.
    • The constant repairs leeched all the money from their savings.
    • The new policy leeched resources from the education budget.
    • Her negative attitude leeched the energy out of the whole group.
  2. To attach to and suck blood, like a leech.
    • In the past, doctors leeched patients to remove 'bad blood.'
    • The fish leeched onto the side of the larger animal.
    • The worm leeched onto the swimmer's foot.
Synonyms
noun
  1. A small worm that lives in water and sucks blood from animals or people.
    • The hiker found a leech on his leg after walking through the swamp.
    • The pond is full of leeches, so be careful if you go swimming.
    • Doctors once used leeches to treat certain medical conditions.
  2. A person who takes advantage of others, especially by taking money or help without giving anything back.
    • She realized her friend was a leech, always asking for favors but never offering help.
    • He's a leech who always borrows money but never repays it.
    • Stop being a leech and start contributing to the team.
  3. The after edge of a sail on a boat.
    • He checked the leech for any signs of wear before the race.
    • A torn leech can make the sail less efficient.
    • The sailor trimmed the leech of the mainsail to catch more wind.
What does "leech" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean