peroxide

[puh-rok-sahyd]

noun

1. Chemistry.

   1. hydrogen peroxide, H 2 O 2 or H–O–O–H.

   2. a compound containing the bivalent group –O 2 –, derived from hydrogen peroxide, as sodium peroxide, Na 2 O 2 , or dimethyl peroxide, C 3 H 6 O 2 .

   3. the oxide of an element that contains an unusually large amount of oxygen.

verb (used with object)

peroxided, peroxiding 

1. to use peroxide as a bleaching agent on (especially the hair).

peroxide

/ pəˈrɒksaɪd /

noun

1. short for hydrogen peroxide, esp when used for bleaching hair

2. any of a class of metallic oxides, such as sodium peroxide, Na 2 O 2 , that contain the divalent ion ^– O-O ^–

3. (not in technical usage) any of certain dioxides, such as manganese peroxide, MnO 2 , that resemble peroxides in their formula but do not contain the ^– O-O ^– ion

4. any of a class of organic compounds whose molecules contain two oxygen atoms bound together. They tend to be explosive

5. (modifier) of, relating to, bleached with, or resembling peroxide

verb

1. (tr) to bleach (the hair) with peroxide

peroxide

1. A compound containing the group O ₂. Peroxides are strong oxidizers and are used as industrial bleaches. When any peroxide is combined with an acid, one of the products is hydrogen peroxide.

2. Hydrogen peroxide.

Other Word Forms

• peroxidic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of peroxide¹

First recorded in 1795–1805; per- + oxide

Example Sentences

An All Black pass went to ground and Henry Pollock, a whirl of peroxide energy, got his toe to the ball first and grubbered into space.

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Pollock, showing off a shock of peroxide blond hair for the first time on the Test stage, took nine minutes to accessorise his new look with a try.

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And products used in treatments offered by dentists cannot contain more than 6% hydrogen peroxide.

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According to eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse stored bleaching powder, plastic and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can intensify fires.

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But a quick perusal shows that most of these are simple, familiar chemicals that are allowed for very specific reasons, like hydrogen peroxide and rubbing alcohol as disinfectants for equipment.

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Related Words

• lighten