bleach

[bleech]

verb (used with object)

1. to make whiter or lighter in color, such as by exposure to sunlight or a chemical agent; remove the color from.

   Do you think she bleaches her hair?

2. to cause (coral) to undergo a loss of color that indicates declining health: caused by a loss of the algae that normally live symbiotically in the coral’s tissues.

   In sufficient concentrations, the chemicals in certain sunscreens can bleach coral.

3. Photography.,  to convert (the silver image of a negative or print) to a silver halide, either to remove the image or to change its tone.

verb (used without object)

1. to become whiter or lighter in color.

   The grass in the fields gradually bleached as winter approached, leaving the landscape pale and drab.

2. (of coral) to undergo a loss of color that indicates declining health: caused by a loss of the algae that normally live symbiotically in the coral’s tissues.

   Coral reefs are bleaching due to ocean pollution and rising sea temperatures.

noun

1. a bleaching agent.

2. an act of bleaching.

3. degree of paleness achieved in bleaching.

bleach

/ bliːtʃ /

verb

1. to make or become white or colourless, as by exposure to sunlight, by the action of chemical agents, etc

noun

1. a bleaching agent

2. the degree of whiteness resulting from bleaching

3. the act of bleaching

bleach

1. A chemical agent used to whiten or remove color from textiles, paper, food, and other substances and materials. Chlorine, sodium hypochlorite, and hydrogen peroxide are bleaches. Bleaches remove color by oxidation or reduction.

Other Word Forms

• bleachable adjective
• bleachability noun
• half-bleached adjective
• nonbleach noun
• overbleach verb
• rebleach verb
• semibleached adjective
• unbleached adjective
• unbleaching adjective
• bleacher noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bleach¹

First recorded before 1050; Middle English blechen, Old English blǣcean, derivative of blāc “pale”; cognate with Old Norse bleikja, Old High German bleichēn

Word History and Origins

Origin of bleach¹

Old English blǣcan ; related to Old Norse bleikja , Old High German bleih pale

Synonym Study

See whiten.

Example Sentences

He also had the opinion that using bleach could cure Covid.

From Salon

Most cake flour that’s sold in the U.S. is bleached, which gives it that very white appearance.

From Salon

Warmer seas have also caused mass bleaching at its world-famous Great Barrier Reef in Queensland and Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia.

From BBC

For the cover photo of his latest album, Kaze wears a long head covering draped over his bleached blond locks.

From Los Angeles Times

Molly said she had to take a "very strong" course of antibiotics she likened to bleach to treat the infection.

From BBC

Related Words

• lighten