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Soak vs Leach - What's the difference?

soak | leach |

In intransitive terms the difference between soak and leach

is that soak is to penetrate or permeate by saturation while leach is to part with soluble constituents by percolation.

In transitive terms the difference between soak and leach

is that soak is to allow (especially a liquid) to be absorbed; to take in, receive. (usually + up while leach is to purge a soluble matter out of something by the action of a percolating fluid.

As a proper noun Leach is

{{surname|lang=en}.

soak

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • (label) To be saturated with liquid by being immersed in it.
  • * Bible, (w) xxiv. 7
  • Their land shall be soaked with blood.
  • (label) To immerse in liquid to the point of saturation or thorough permeation.
  • (label) To penetrate or permeate by saturation.
  • * Sir (Walter Scott) (1771-1832)
  • The rivulet beneath soaked its way obscurely through wreaths of snow.
  • (label) To allow (especially a liquid) to be absorbed; to take in, receive. (usually + up )
  • * {{quote-book, year=1927, author= F. E. Penny
  • , chapter=4, title= Pulling the Strings , passage=The case was that of a murder. It had an element of mystery about it, however, which was puzzling the authorities. A turban and loincloth soaked in blood had been found; also a staff.}}
  • To drink intemperately or gluttonously.
  • (label) To heat a metal before shaping it.
  • To hold a kiln at a particular temperature for a given period of time.
  • (label) To absorb; to drain.
  • Noun

    (en noun)
  • An immersion in water etc.
  • * "After the climb, I had a nice long soak in a bath."
  • (slang, British) A drunkard.
  • (Australia) A low-lying depression that fills with water after rain.
  • * 1985 , (Peter Carey), Illywhacker , Faber & Faber 2003, p. 38:
  • I set off early to walk along the Melbourne Road where, one of the punters had told me, there was a soak with plenty of frogs in it.

    Anagrams

    * * * English ergative verbs

    leach

    English

    Noun

    (leaches)
  • A quantity of wood ashes, through which water passes, and thus imbibes the alkali.
  • A tub or vat for leaching ashes, bark, etc.
  • * 1894 , , In the Midst of Alarms , ch. 7:
  • "This is the leach ," said Kitty, pointing to a large, yellowish, upright wooden cylinder, which rested on some slanting boards, down the surface of which ran a brownish liquid that dripped into a trough.
  • (nautical)
  • Verb

  • To purge a soluble matter out of something by the action of a percolating fluid.
  • Heavy rainfall can leach out minerals important for plant growth from the soil.
  • * '>citation
  • To part with soluble constituents by percolation.
  • Usage notes

    Do not confuse this verb with the verb .

    Derived terms

    * (l)

    Anagrams

    *