English noun: leech | |||
1. | leech (animal) carnivorous or bloodsucking aquatic or terrestrial worms typically having a sucker at each end | ||
Synonyms | bloodsucker, hirudinean | ||
Broader (hypernym) | annelid, annelid worm, segmented worm | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | Hirudo medicinalis, horseleech, medicinal leech | ||
Member meronym | class Hirudinea, Hirudinea | ||
2. | leech (person) a follower who hangs around a host (without benefit to the host) in hope of gain or advantage | ||
Synonyms | parasite, sponge, sponger | ||
Broader (hypernym) | follower | ||
English verb: leech | |||
1. | leech (body) draw blood | ||
Samples | In the old days, doctors routinely bled patients as part of the treatment. | ||
Synonyms | bleed, phlebotomise, phlebotomize | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | care for, treat | ||
Domain category | medicine, practice of medicine | ||