-lea-

n. [ OE. ley, lay, As. leáh, leá; akin to Prov. G. lon bog, morass, grove, and perh. to L. lucus grove, E. light, n. ] A meadow or sward land; a grassy field. “Plow-torn leas.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The lowing herd wind slowly o'er the lea. Gray. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To part with soluble constituents by percolation. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Leech, a physician. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Naut.) See 3d Leech. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Written also letch. ] [ Cf. As. leáh lye, G. lauge. See Lye. ] 1. A quantity of wood ashes, through which water passes, and thus imbibes the alkali. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A tub or vat for leaching ashes, bark, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Leach tub, a wooden tub in which ashes are leached. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Leached p. pr. & vb. n. Leaching. ] [ Written also leech and letch. ] 1. To remove the soluble constituents from by subjecting to the action of percolating water or other liquid; as, to leach ashes or coffee. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To dissolve out; -- often used with out; as, to leach out alkali from ashes. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Permitting liquids to pass by percolation; not capable of retaining water; porous; pervious; -- said of gravelly or sandy soils, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To guide or conduct, as by accompanying, going before, showing, influencing, directing with authority, etc.; to have precedence or preëminence; to be first or chief; -- used in most of the senses of lead, v. t. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To tend or reach in a certain direction, or to a certain place; as, the path leads to the mill; gambling leads to other vices. [ 1913 Webster ]

The mountain foot that leads towards Mantua. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

To lead off or
To lead out, to go first; to begin; as, Mickey Mantle led off in the fifth inning of the game. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]