bleach

[ bleech ]

verb (used with object)

1. to make whiter or lighter in color, such as by exposure to sunlight or a chemical agent; remove the color from:

   Do you think she bleaches her hair?

2. to cause (coral) to undergo a loss of color that indicates declining health: caused by a loss of the algae that normally live symbiotically in the coral’s tissues:

   In sufficient concentrations, the chemicals in certain sunscreens can bleach coral.

3. Photography. to convert (the silver image of a negative or print) to a silver halide, either to remove the image or to change its tone.

verb (used without object)

1. to become whiter or lighter in color:

   The grass in the fields gradually bleached as winter approached, leaving the landscape pale and drab.

2. (of coral) to undergo a loss of color that indicates declining health: caused by a loss of the algae that normally live symbiotically in the coral’s tissues:

   Coral reefs are bleaching due to ocean pollution and rising sea temperatures.

noun

1. a bleaching agent.
2. an act of bleaching.
3. degree of paleness achieved in bleaching.

bleach

/ bliːtʃ /

verb

1. to make or become white or colourless, as by exposure to sunlight, by the action of chemical agents, etc

noun

1. a bleaching agent
2. the degree of whiteness resulting from bleaching
3. the act of bleaching

bleach

/ blēch /

1. A chemical agent used to whiten or remove color from textiles, paper, food, and other substances and materials. Chlorine, sodium hypochlorite, and hydrogen peroxide are bleaches. Bleaches remove color by oxidation or reduction.

Derived Forms

• ˈbleacher, noun
• ˈbleachable, adjective

Other Words From

• bleach·a·ble adjective
• bleach·a·bil·i·ty [blee-ch, uh, -, bil, -i-tee], noun
• half-bleached adjective
• non·bleach noun
• o·ver·bleach verb
• re·bleach verb
• sem·i·bleached adjective
• un·bleached adjective
• un·bleach·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bleach¹

First recorded before 1050; Middle English blechen, Old English blǣcean, derivative of blāc “pale”; cognate with Old Norse bleikja, Old High German bleichēn

Word History and Origins

Origin of bleach¹

Old English blǣcan ; related to Old Norse bleikja , Old High German bleih pale

Synonym Study

See whiten.

Example Sentences

She even lip-synchs to her song in a bleach blonde wig and leather jumpsuit eerily similar to Anderson's own distinct look.

From Salon

He suggested injecting bleach to fight COVID, recommended people take the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine, which had not shown to be safe, and encouraged people to protest social distancing restrictions.

From Salon

According to the 2021 lawsuit, Walmart allegedly disposed of aerosols cans, spray paints, rust removers, bleach, pesticides and over-the-counter drugs in regular trash bins, which are not permitted to receive such waste products.

From Los Angeles Times

It feels a little silly arguing this point with people who plan to vote for a man who proposed bleach injections to cure COVID-19.

From Salon

But, of course, common sense tells us that Trump — a man who once suggested bleach injections to cure COVID-19 — is barely aware of how human biology works.

From Salon

Related Words

• lighten