bleeder

American  

[blee-der] / ˈbli dər /

noun

1. a person who bleeds abnormally because of low clotting rate; hemophiliac.

2. a person or animal that bleeds easily, especially an athlete or racehorse.

3. a person who draws blood from a sick person; phlebotomist.

4. Slang. a person who drains another of money, resources, etc.; parasite or usurer.

5. Metallurgy. an ingot or casting from which some metal has escaped.

6. Also called bleeder resistor.  Electricity. a resistor that is connected across a power supply for voltage regulation and to dissipate the charge remaining in capacitors when the power is discontinued.

7. Also called bleeder valve.  a valve or opening for draining a tank, tubing, etc.

8. British Slang.

   1. a despicable person.

   2. a person, especially a man; fellow.

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bleeder British  

/ ˈbliːdə /

noun

1. slang

   1. derogatory a despicable person

      a rotten bleeder

   2. any person; fellow

      where's the bleeder gone?

2. pathol a nontechnical name for a haemophiliac

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Etymology

Origin of bleeder

First recorded in 1780–90; bleed + -er ¹

Example Sentences

"Our U.S. streaming business is no longer a bleeder," CEO David Zaslav said on a post-earnings call.

From Reuters • May 23, 2023

Lux hit a bleeder to the open left side of the infield with the shift on that allowed Bellinger to reach third.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 6, 2022

Tampa Bay's bullpen, the strength of these Rays, worked four scoreless innings to count Zunino's bleeder as the game-winning knock.

From Washington Post • Oct. 11, 2020

Figure 21.53 A bleeder resistor Rbl discharges the capacitor in this electronic device once it is switched off.

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015

The nurse makes the bleeder sit with his head tilted back and his buddy sit with his head between his knees so he doesn’t pass out.

From "Wintergirls" by Laurie Halse Anderson

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