To remove soluble substances from soil, ore, or other materials by washing with a liquid. To gradually drain away or lose substance.
From Old English 'leccan' meaning 'to moisten' or 'to water,' related to 'leak.' The technical meaning in chemistry and mining developed in the 17th century as industrial processes advanced.
The environmental concern about chemicals leaching into groundwater uses the same ancient concept that medieval brewers understood—water naturally carries dissolved substances wherever it flows! This process, whether beneficial (making tea) or harmful (contamination), follows the same fundamental chemistry our ancestors observed.
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