1. to extract soluble constituents from a solid material by percolating a liquid through it
Usage: technical; chemistry/geology

Examples

• The process lixiviates minerals from the ore using acidic water.
• Rainwater lixiviates nutrients from the soil over time.
• The laboratory lixiviates salt compounds from the rock samples.
• Industrial methods lixiviate valuable metals from waste materials.
• Groundwater lixiviates contaminants through the geological layers.