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
    to extort gradually all the resources of a person or thing
12. 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

Ms Hogan, then 19, suffered a punctured lung, spinal fracture and a bleed on the brain, leaving her unable to walk or talk.

From BBC

One "harrowing" attack left her needing tests for Hepatitis B after a woman with the condition, who had a bleeding foot, kicked her in the mouth, she said.

From BBC

It listed victims being beaten hundreds of times with canes until they bled.

From BBC

Symptoms happen when those patches break down and bleed but cannot leave your body.

From BBC

The fall comes after Lord Blunkett had a recent heart attack which means he must take blood thinners - making any bruising or bleeding more dangerous.

From BBC

Related Words

• drain
• ooze
• trickle
• weep