The difference between Leech and Parasite
When used as nouns, leech means an aquatic blood-sucking annelid of class hirudinea, especially , whereas parasite means a person who lives on other people's efforts or expense and gives little or nothing back.
Leech is also verb with the meaning: to apply a leech medicinally, so that it sucks blood from the patient.
check bellow for the other definitions of Leech and Parasite
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Leech as a noun:
An aquatic blood-sucking annelid of class Hirudinea, especially .
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Leech as a noun (figuratively):
A person who derives profit from others in a parasitic fashion.
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Leech as a noun (medicine, dated):
A glass tube designed for drawing blood from damaged tissue by means of a vacuum.
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Leech as a verb (transitive):
To apply a leech medicinally, so that it sucks blood from the patient.
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Leech as a verb (transitive):
To drain (resources) without giving back.
Examples:
" Bert leeched hundreds of files from the BBS, but never uploaded anything in return."
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Leech as a noun (archaic):
A physician.
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Leech as a noun (paganism, Heathenry):
A healer.
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Leech as a verb (archaic, rare):
To treat, cure or heal.
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Leech as a noun (nautical):
The vertical edge of a square sail.
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Leech as a noun (nautical):
The aft edge of a triangular sail.
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Parasite as a noun (pejorative):
A person who lives on other people's efforts or expense and gives little or nothing back.
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Parasite as a noun (pejorative):
A sycophant or hanger-on.
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Parasite as a noun (biology):
An organism that lives on or in another organism, deriving benefit from living on or in that other organism, while not contributing towards that other organism sufficiently to cover the cost to that other organism.
Examples:
"Lice, fleas, ticks and mites are widely spread parasites."
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Parasite as a noun (literary, poetic):
A climbing plant which is supported by a wall, trellis etc.