peroxide

American  

[puh-rok-sahyd] / pəˈrɒk saɪd /

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 British  

/ 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 Scientific  

/ pə-rŏk′sīd′ /

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

Etymology

Origin of peroxide

First recorded in 1795–1805; per- + oxide

Example Sentences

The researchers found that the crystals, made from an iron-containing compound called heme, are set in motion by the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen.

From Science Daily

The materials were then evaluated for their ability to catalyze hydrogen peroxide production.

From Science Daily

Compared with normal tissue, cancer cells tend to be more acidic and contain higher levels of hydrogen peroxide.

From Science Daily

Mama went in the house and came back with some clean rags, a bottle of peroxide, and some iodine.

From Literature

When E. faecalis is present in a wound, the hydrogen peroxide it produces causes oxidative stress in nearby human skin cells.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• lighten