blanch

The definition of blanch means to scald in hot water.

(verb)

An example of to blanch is to scald vegetables before freezing to maintain their cell structure and green color.
An example of to blanch is turning almonds white by scalding their skin off.

See blanch in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb

to make white; take color out of
to make pale
to bleach (endive, celery, etc.) by earthing up or covering so as to keep away light and improve the appearance, flavor, or tenderness
1. to scald (as vegetables being prepared for freezing)
2. to scald (almonds) so as to remove the skins
Metallurgy to brighten with acid or by coating with tin

Origin: ME blanchen < OFr blanchir < blanc, white: see blank

intransitive verb

to whiten; turn pale

Related Forms:

See blanch in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb blanched also blenched, blanch·ing also blench·ing, blanch·es also blench·es

verb, transitive

To take the color from; bleach.
To whiten (a growing plant or plant part) by covering to cut off direct light.
To whiten (a metal) by soaking in acid or by coating with tin.
a. To scald (almonds, for example) in order to loosen the skin.
b. To scald (food) briefly, as before freezing or as a preliminary stage in preparing a dish.
To cause to turn white or become pale.

verb, intransitive

To turn white or become pale: Their faces blanched in terror.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English blaunchen, to make white

Origin: , from Old French blanchir

Origin: , from blanche

Origin: , feminine of blanc, white

Origin: , of Germanic origin; see bhel-¹ in Indo-European roots

Related Forms: