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. )

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bleaching

Coral bleaching occurs when rising ocean temperatures cause corals to lose the beneficial algae living inside their tissues.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 19, 2026

Vanuatu and Samoa have moved to protect their corals from imminent bleaching.

From Barron's ● Oct. 4, 2026

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration believes that this fourth global coral bleaching event likely concluded in mid-2025.

From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026

That includes droughts, floods, infrastructure damage, coral bleaching, wildfires, and agricultural and health effects.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026

Knees knocking like a skeleton on Halloween, embarrassment bleaching my black cheeks red, eyes stapled to the page in front of me.

From "Bronx Masquerade" by Nikki Grimes

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