bleed

[ bleed ]

verb (used without object)

, bled [bled], bleed·ing.

1. 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.

2. (of injured tissue, excrescences, etc.) to exude blood:

   a wart that is bleeding.

3. (of a plant) to exude sap, resin, etc., from a wound.
4. (of dye or paint) to run or become diffused:

   All the colors bled when the dress was washed.

5. (of a liquid) to ooze or flow out.
6. to feel pity, sorrow, or anguish:

   My heart bleeds for you. A nation bleeds for its dead heroes.

7. to suffer wounds or death, as in battle:

   The soldiers bled for the cause.

8. (of a broadcast signal) to interfere with another signal:

   CB transmissions bleeding over into walkie-talkies.

9. Printing. (of printed matter) to run off the edges of a page, either by design or through mutilation caused by too close trimming.
10. Slang. to pay out money, as when overcharged or threatened with extortion.
11. 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], bleed·ing.

1. to cause to lose blood, especially surgically:

   Doctors no longer bleed their patients to reduce fever.

2. to lose or emit (blood or sap).
3. to drain or draw sap, water, electricity, etc., from (something):

   to bleed a pipeline of excess air.

4. to remove trapped air from (as an automotive brake system) by opening a bleeder valve.
5. to obtain an excessive amount from; extort money from.
6. Printing.
   1. to permit (printed illustrations or ornamentation) to run off the page or sheet.
   2. to trim the margin of (a book or sheet) so closely as to mutilate the text or illustration.

noun

1. Printing.
   1. a sheet or page margin trimmed so as to mutilate the text or illustration.
   2. a part thus trimmed off.
2. Medicine/Medical. an instance of bleeding; hemorrhage:

   an intracranial bleed.

adjective

1. Printing. characterized by bleeding:

   a bleed page.

verb phrase

1. to draw or extract:

   to bleed off sap from a maple tree; to bleed off static electricity.

bleed

/ bliːd /

verb

1. intr to lose or emit blood
2. tr to remove or draw blood from (a person or animal)
3. intr to be injured or die, as for a cause or one's country
4. (of plants) to exude (sap or resin), esp from a cut
5. informal.
   tr to obtain relatively large amounts of money, goods, etc, esp by extortion
6. tr to draw liquid or gas from (a container or enclosed system)

   to bleed the hydraulic brakes

7. intr (of dye or paint) to run or become mixed, as when wet
8. to print or be printed so that text, illustrations, etc, run off the trimmed page
9. tr to trim (the edges of a printed sheet) so closely as to cut off some of the printed matter
10. intr civil engineering building trades (of a mixture) to exude (a liquid) during compaction, such as water from cement
11. bleed someone or something dry
    bleed someone or something dry to extort gradually all the resources of a person or thing
12. one's heart bleeds
    one's heart bleeds used to express sympathetic grief, but often used ironically

noun

1. printing
   1. an illustration or sheet trimmed so that some matter is bled
   2. ( as modifier )

      a bleed page

2. printing the trimmings of a sheet that has been bled

Other Words From

• outbleed verb (used with object) outbled outbleeding
• un·bled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bleed¹

before 1000; Middle English bleden, Old English blēdan, derivative of blōd blood

Word History and Origins

Origin of bleed¹

Old English blēdan ; see blood

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. bleed white. white ( def 42 ).

More idioms and phrases containing bleed

In addition to the idiom beginning with bleed , also see my heart bleeds for you .

Example Sentences

He didn’t sleep on the bus, even as Saturday night bled into Sunday morning.

From Washington Post

“I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you my heart bleeds for the people involved in it,” Andy Reid said after the game.

From Washington Post

These were 3-, 4-, 5-year-old kids bleeding to death, bleeding out of their ears, eyes, nose, skin and bowels, bleeding internally, vomiting blood.

From Washington Post

A blanket of banana slices or pecans or nut butter between warm oatmeal and creamy-cold yogurt will protect the distinctly different soft foods from bleeding into one another as you sink your spoon through the many beautiful layers.

From Eater

The lack of ego in that relationship is hopefully bleeding into this and we can have a similar situation here.

From Washington Post

This ever-so-slight heart-bleed for immigrant children branded him a party apostate, and he began to change course.

From The Daily Beast

There was no reading of single lines whatsoever because the voices would bleed through on the other mics.

From The Daily Beast

Those prognosticators had reason to believe the 10,000 lakes could bleed a little red into Washington.

From The Daily Beast

For instance, when a couple is having trouble, the tension and hostility can bleed into BDSM scenes.

From The Daily Beast

Will the freedom you mentioned writing the novel bleed into your work writing your next screenplay?

From The Daily Beast

"Only cut deep enough to make it bleed freely," said the surgeon, as he dressed Harry's arm.

From Project Gutenberg

Undoubtedly the type who got sick to his stomach at the sight of blood even though it might be no more than a nose-bleed.

From Project Gutenberg

I must not wound myself—I would bleed slowly—they might discover me still alive.

From Project Gutenberg

Called in to bleed Mme. de Mortsauf, whose life was saved by this operation.

From Project Gutenberg

I suppose that something has been smashed up, so that it cannot bleed.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• drain
• ooze
• trickle
• weep