leech

• Nom 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.

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.

1. Bloodsucking wormB1formal

   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.

   Sangsue

   • 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.

   Synonymesbloodsucker

2. Parasitic followerB2informal

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

   Sangsue (au sens figuré)

   • 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.

   Synonymesbloodsuckercadgerdependentfreeloaderhanger-onmoocherparasitescroungersponger

   Antonymesbenefactorcontributorgiverprovidersupporter

• Verbe signifiant épuiser les ressources ou s'accrocher à quelqu'un pour un profit personnel, souvent de manière parasitaire.

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

1. C1formalmedical

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

   appliquer des sangsues

   • 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.

   Synonymesbleed

2. Exploit or drainB2informal

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

   Exploiter, vivre aux dépens de

   • 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.

   Synonymesbleeddrainexploitmilkmoochsponge

   Antonymesaidassistbenefitbestowcontributeendowgivehelpnurtureprovidesupplysupportsustain

Variantes phrasalleech onto