The leech appears in the biblical Book of Proverbs as an archetype of insatiable greed. [1] The term "leech" is used to characterise a person who takes without giving, living at the expense of others. [2]

The meaning of LEECH is any of numerous carnivorous or bloodsucking usually freshwater annelid worms (class Hirudinea) that have typically a flattened lanceolate segmented body with a sucker at each end. How to use leech in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Leech.

Feb 9, 2022 · Learn how to safely and quickly remove a leech, as well as how to recognize a leech and when to seek immediate medical treatment.

leech, (subclass Hirudinea), any of about 650 species of segmented worms (phylum Annelida) characterized by a small sucker, which contains the mouth, at the anterior end of the body and a large sucker located at the posterior end. All leeches have 34 body segments.

A leech’s head has suckers that allows it to attach itself to fish and other animals so it can drink blood from this host. Here are some lesser known characteristics of leeches. 1. Have 34 body segments

Mar 5, 2025 · Annelid - Leech, Parasitic, Bloodsucking: Leeches are segmented worms characterized by a small sucker at the anterior end of the body and a large sucker at the posterior end; the medicinal use of leeches, which dates from antiquity, reached its peak in the first half of the 19th century.

May 27, 2024 · The leech (Hirudinea) is a predator and blood-sucking parasite that is native to almost every continent. This aquatic worm is a member of the Annelida phylum, which means it’s related to the earthworm.

Leeches that inhabit inhospitable habitats occur in more than one branch or family of leech phylogeny suggesting that there have been independent invasions of environments with extreme conditions. Herein, we review examples of leeches that live in extreme conditions and the exceptional biology that has contributed to leeches being the most ...

LEECH definition: 1. a type of worm that lives in wet places and fastens itself onto the bodies of humans and animals…. Learn more.

leech, Any annelid worm of the class Hirudinea (about 300 known species), with a small sucker containing the mouth at the front end and a large sucker at the back end. Species range from tiny to about 8 in. (20 cm) long.