leech
//liːtʃ//
Noun
leechSingular
leechesPlural
1
A bloodsucking aquatic or terrestrial worm with a flattened segmented body, typically living in freshwater.
A leech attached itself to my leg while I was wading in the pond.
2
A person who exploits or clings to another for personal gain without giving anything in return.
He's such a leech—he always borrows money but never pays it back.
Synonym
Noun
leechSingular
leechesPlural
1
(archaic) A physician or healer.
In medieval times, the village leech was often the only person who could treat the sick.
Verb
leechInfinitive
leechPresent tense
leechedPast tense
leechedPast participle
leechingPresent participle
leechesThird-person singular
1
To exploit or drain resources from someone or something persistently.
He has been leeching money off his parents for years.
2
To attach oneself to someone in a parasitic manner.
He always leeches off his wealthy friends.