1. to extract soluble matter from a substance by percolating liquid through it
Usage: chemistry, geology

Examples

• The chemist used water to lixiviate the mineral ore and separate the valuable salts.
• Rainwater can lixiviate nutrients from the soil over time.
• The process lixiviates calcium carbonate from the limestone sample.
• Industrial facilities lixiviate metals from ore using acidic solutions.
• Soil scientists study how water lixiviates different compounds through layers of earth.