peroxide

[ puh-rok-sahyd ]

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)

, per·ox·id·ed, per·ox·id·ing.

1. to use peroxide as a bleaching agent on (especially the hair).

peroxide

/ 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

/ 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 Words From

• per·ox·id·ic [pur-ok-, sid, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of peroxide¹

First recorded in 1795–1805; per- + oxide

Example Sentences

Another option she suggests is a paste of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, which you can apply to the stains and let it sit for an hour or two before scrubbing off.

From Washington Post

A leading asthma patient group has issued a warning against an unproven coronavirus treatment circulating on social media that is leading some people to post videos of themselves breathing in hydrogen peroxide through a nebulizer.

From Washington Post

Mercola offered documents that he claimed rebutted criticisms of hydrogen peroxide treatment and took issue with the Center for Countering Digital Hate’s methodology.

From Time

That’s why although UV lights are widely used to sanitize personal protection items in healthcare and lab settings, this method is often complemented by other disinfection processes, such as bleach or hydrogen peroxide.

From Popular-Science

Either will cause the hydrogen peroxide to break down very quickly.

From Science News For Students

Five years ago, she said, he tried to kill himself by ingesting ibuprofen and hydrogen peroxide.

From The Daily Beast

Covering her peroxide blond bob was a knit cap that sprouted an enormous feather and lace from its frontal lobe.

From The Daily Beast

When peroxide of manganese has been used, the manganese is also precipitated as oxide.

From Project Gutenberg

In the order of their assumed efficiency:—Moist peroxide of Iron.

From Project Gutenberg

Blood poisons interfering with the circulation in a purely physical manner, such as peroxide of hydrogen, ricine, abrine.

From Project Gutenberg

Certainly we might find somebody better than the peroxide blonde he now picks up in front of the moving picture palace.

From Project Gutenberg

Up to the time that story appeared, I had no idea as to what sort of creature the peroxide blonde might be.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• lighten