peroxide
Americannoun
verb (used with object)
noun
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short for hydrogen peroxide, esp when used for bleaching hair
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any of a class of metallic oxides, such as sodium peroxide, Na 2 O 2 , that contain the divalent ion – O-O –
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(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
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any of a class of organic compounds whose molecules contain two oxygen atoms bound together. They tend to be explosive
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(modifier) of, relating to, bleached with, or resembling peroxide
verb
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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.
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Hydrogen peroxide.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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peroxidesimple
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peroxidessimple
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have peroxidedperfect
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has peroxidedperfect
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am peroxidingprogressive
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are peroxidingprogressive
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is peroxidingprogressive
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have been peroxidingperfect progressive
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has been peroxidingperfect progressive
Past
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peroxidedsimple
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had peroxidedperfect
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was peroxidingprogressive
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were peroxidingprogressive
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had been peroxidingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of peroxide
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
In an effort combat the algae in the Reflecting Pool, employees of the National Park Service were seen pouring in gallons of hydrogen peroxide, a chemical commonly used in pool maintenance.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 20, 2026
In response, crews reportedly used hydrogen peroxide treatments to address water quality issues, restoring just the outer rim of the pool to its blue coloration while leaving other areas still very green in appearance.
From Salon ● Jun. 19, 2026
Interior Department spokeswoman Katie Martin said the hydrogen peroxide the National Park Service is using “is a milder treatment than chlorine and is used in spas and specialty pools like natural swimming pools.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026
The National Park Service said it is using pumps to treat the water with what it called nanobubble ozone technology to kill the algae, along with hydrogen peroxide, which it said is milder than chlorine.
From Barron's ● Jun. 16, 2026
Until well into the second half of the century, the formula H2O2 might mean water to one chemist but hydrogen peroxide to another.
From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson
The altered enzyme can no longer insert itself into the membrane correctly, leaving lipid peroxides free to accumulate.
From Science Daily ● Dec. 9, 2025
The ROSs and lipid peroxides then triggered intensive oxidative bursts, while the protons lowered the intracellular pH value, creating an unfavourable acidic microenvironment for the cancer cells.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 20, 2023
When ozone wafts into buildings, it reacts with limonene and similar molecules called monoterpenes, turning them into peroxides, alcohols, and other molecules that grow into airborne particles.
From Science Magazine ● Feb. 24, 2022
Hydrogen peroxide, H2O2, prepared from metal peroxides, is an important bleach and disinfectant.
From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019
The second includes such non-metallic bodies as carbon, silicon, many of the oxides and peroxides of the metals, and probably also some oxides of the non-metals, sulphides and selenides.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 8 "Conduction, Electric" by Various
Puffy-faced and peroxided, Koepka finally admitted, “I’ll be honest: I can’t compete with these guys week in and week out.”
From Washington Post ● Feb. 22, 2023
Murray SawChuck, 38, a magician known for his spiky peroxided hair and a self-anointed role as “the Dennis the Menace of magic,” notes he is free in the evenings to attend other shows.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2016
With his peroxided locks, heavy mascara and volatile sensitivity, his Jackson is a cross between punky rockers Billy Idol and Billie Joe Armstrong, with a dash of corrupt, rabble-rousing politico Huey Long thrown in.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 21, 2012
When we meet to photograph him, he still has the fluffy blond hair from the role – peroxided because there was no budget for wigs.
From The Guardian ● Jul. 22, 2010
When it was Dad’s move, I’d steal looks at him in his button-down shirt, trying to remember the fast-fading picture of the guy with peroxided hair and a leather jacket.
From "If I Stay" by Gayle Forman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
