leech

A noun with two primary meanings: (1) a carnivorous or bloodsucking aquatic or terrestrial worm with a sucker at each end; (2) a person who exploits or hangs around others for personal gain or advantage.

ruСуществительное с двумя основными значениями: (1) хищный или кровососущий водный или наземный червь с присосками на обоих концах; (2) человек, который эксплуатирует других или постоянно находится рядом с ними ради личной выгоды или преимущества.esSustantivo con dos significados principales: (1) gusano acuático o terrestre depredador o hematófago con ventosas en ambos extremos; (2) persona que explota a otros o se mantiene constantemente a su lado para beneficio o ventaja propia.frNom désignant principalement (1) un ver aquatique ou terrestre, souvent sanguinaire ou prédateur, muni de ventouses à chaque extrémité ; et (2) une personne qui exploite les autres ou s'accroche à eux pour son propre intérêt ou avantage.deSubstantiv mit zwei Hauptbedeutungen: (1) ein räuberischer oder blutsaugender Wasser- oder Landwurm mit Saugnäpfen an beiden Enden; (2) eine Person, die andere ausnutzt oder sich ständig in deren Nähe aufhält, um persönlichen Vorteil zu ziehen.ptSubstantivo com dois sentidos principais: (1) verme aquático ou terrestre, predador ou hematófago, com ventosas nas duas extremidades; (2) pessoa que explora os outros ou que fica constantemente ao lado deles em busca de vantagem ou benefício pessoal.zh名词，有两个主要含义：（1）一种有吸盘的水生或陆生吸血或肉食性蠕虫；（2）指剥削他人或为私利而依附他人的人。arاسم له معنيان رئيسان: (1) دودة ماصّة للدماء تعيش في الماء أو على اليابسة ولها ممصّات في طرفيها؛ (2) شخص يستغلّ الآخرين أو يتطفّل عليهم لتحقيق منفعة شخصية.

1. Bloodsucking worm B1 formal

   A type of carnivorous or parasitic worm that lives in water or moist soil and attaches to hosts using suckers to feed on blood or tissue.

   • The doctor applied a leech to reduce swelling after surgery.
   • Leeches were once commonly used in bloodletting practices.
   • The pond is home to many leeches that feed on fish.
   • Hikers are advised to check for leeches after walking through wetlands.

   ruПиявкаesSanguijuelafrSangsuedeEgelptSanguessugazh水蛭arعلق

   Synonyme: bloodsucker

2. Parasitic follower B2 informal

   A person who depends on or clings to someone else for personal benefit, often without giving anything in return.

   • He's nothing but a leech, always borrowing money and never paying it back.
   • She realized her so-called friend was a leech who only called when she needed something.
   • The wealthy businessman surrounded himself with leeches who flattered him for favors.
   • In the office, he was known as a leech who took credit for others' work.

   ruПрихлебательesSanguijuela (persona parásita)frSangsue (au sens figuré)deSchmarotzerptParasitazh寄生虫arطفيلي اجتماعي

   Synonyme: bloodsuckercadgerdependentfreeloaderhanger-onmoocherparasitescroungersponger

   Antonyme: benefactorcontributorgiverprovidersupporter

• leeches plural form
• leeches' possessive plural form
• leech's possessive singular form

A verb meaning to drain resources or cling to someone for personal gain, often in a parasitic manner.

ruГлагол, означающий истощать ресурсы или цепляться к кому-то ради личной выгоды, часто паразитическим образом.esVerbo que significa agotar los recursos de alguien o aferrarse a otra persona para beneficio propio, a menudo de manera parasitaria.frVerbe signifiant épuiser les ressources ou s'accrocher à quelqu'un pour un profit personnel, souvent de manière parasitaire.deVerb, das bedeutet, jemanden oder etwas auszubeuten, indem man Ressourcen, Geld oder Energie ohne Gegenleistung abschöpft; sich parasitär an jemanden hängen.ptVerbo que significa explorar ou sugar os recursos de alguém de forma parasitaria, ou agarrar-se a alguém para obter vantagem pessoal. No sentido literal, refere-se ao animal hematófago (sanguessuga).zh动词，指像水蛭一样依附他人、榨取资源或利益，常带有寄生、剥削的意味。arفعل يعني امتصاص موارد شخص ما أو التعلق به لتحقيق منفعة شخصية، غالبًا بطريقة طفيلية واستغلالية.

1. Draw blood C1 formal medical

   To use a leech to draw blood from a person or animal, historically for medical purposes.

   • In medieval times, doctors would leech patients to balance humors.
   • The physician leeched the wound to remove infected blood.
   • Some modern surgeons still leech tissue to promote healing.

   ruКровопусканиеessangrar con sanguijuelasfrappliquer des sangsuesdeBlutegelbehandlungptAplicar sanguessugazh放血arالاستعمال بالعلق

   Synonyme: bleed

2. Exploit or drain B2 informal

   To take advantage of someone or something, often by draining resources or energy.

   • He leeched off his friends for years without contributing.
   • The company leeched the local community's resources.
   • She felt leeched of all her energy after the argument.

   ruПаразитироватьesAprovecharse o agotar recursosfrExploiter, vivre aux dépens dedeSchmarotzenptParasitarzh剥削arاستغلال واستنزاف

   Synonyme: bleeddrainexploitmilkmoochsponge

   Antonyme: aidassistbenefitbestowcontributeendowgivehelpnurtureprovidesupplysupportsustain

• leeched past participle
• leeched past simple
• leeching present participle
• leeches third person singular

Phrasal-Varianten: leech onto