Showing results for "bleaching"

• present participle of bleach.

bleaching

American  

[blee-ching] / ˈbli tʃɪŋ /

noun

1. the application of bleach or another chemical agent to something in order to whiten, lighten, clean, or disinfect.

   Bleaching is not recommended for this fabric.

   She gives her kitchen countertops a weekly bleaching.

2. the process of becoming whiter or lighter in color, such as by prolonged exposure to sunlight, the application of chemicals, or other means.

   The bleaching of animal bones in the desert is a well-known phenomenon.

3. a loss of color in coral that indicates declining health: caused by a loss of the algae that normally live symbiotically in the coral's tissues.

4. Photography. the conversion of the silver image of a negative or print to a silver halide, either to remove the image or to change its tone.

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Etymology

Origin of bleaching

First recorded in 1550–60, bleaching for def. 1; 1970–75, bleaching for def. 3; bleach ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bleaching

Wildfires, floods, melting ice caps, heat waves, the bleaching of ocean reefs.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 18, 2026

Nolasco said a taper is the favorite haircut these days and there’s also players bleaching their hair blond for the playoffs.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 23, 2026

Periodic, localised bleaching is a natural and even healthy process for reefs.

From Barron's ● May 22, 2026

Daniel added that eventually, he was using the bleaching product all over his body on a daily basis.

From BBC ● Feb. 17, 2026

When I drift away from the fire to find a place to throw down my sleeping bag, the first faint smear of dawn is already bleaching the rim of the northeastern sky.

From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer