verb (used without object),bled[bled]/blɛd/, bleed·ing.
to lose blood from the vascular system, either internally into the body or externally through a natural orifice or break in the skin: to bleed from the mouth.
(of injured tissue, excrescences, etc.) to exude blood: a wart that is bleeding.
(of a plant) to exude sap, resin, etc., from a wound.
(of dye or paint) to run or become diffused: All the colors bled when the dress was washed.
(of a liquid) to ooze or flow out.
to feel pity, sorrow, or anguish: My heart bleeds for you. A nation bleeds for its dead heroes.
to suffer wounds or death, as in battle: The soldiers bled for the cause.
(of a broadcast signal) to interfere with another signal: CB transmissions bleeding over into walkie-talkies.
Printing. (of printed matter) to run off the edges of a page, either by design or through mutilation caused by too close trimming.
Slang. to pay out money, as when overcharged or threatened with extortion.
Metallurgy. (of a cooling ingot or casting) to have molten metal force its way through the solidified exterior because of internal gas pressure.
verb (used with object),bled[bled]/blɛd/, bleed·ing.
to cause to lose blood, especially surgically: Doctors no longer bleed their patients to reduce fever.
to lose or emit (blood or sap).
to drain or draw sap, water, electricity, etc., from (something): to bleed a pipeline of excess air.
to remove trapped air from (as an automotive brake system) by opening a bleeder valve.
to obtain an excessive amount from; extort money from.
Printing.
to permit (printed illustrations or ornamentation) to run off the page or sheet.
to trim the margin of (a book or sheet) so closely as to mutilate the text or illustration.
noun
Printing.
a sheet or page margin trimmed so as to mutilate the text or illustration.
a part thus trimmed off.
Medicine/Medical. an instance of bleeding; hemorrhage: an intracranial bleed.
adjective
Printing. characterized by bleeding: a bleed page.
Verb Phrases
bleed off, to draw or extract: to bleed off sap from a maple tree; to bleed off static electricity.
Old English bledan "to let blood," in Middle English and after, "to let blood from surgically;" also "to emit blood," from Proto-Germanic *blodjan "emit blood" (cf. Old Norse blæða, German bluten), from *bhlo-to- "swell, gush, spurt" (see blood (n.)). Meaning "extort money from" is from 1670s. Of dyes or paints, from 1862. Related: Bled; bleeding.
