bleach Hear it!

bleach definition

bleach (blēc̸h)

transitive verb

  1. to remove color from by means of chemicals or by exposure to the sun's rays
  2. to whiten; blanch

Etymology: ME blechen < OE blǣcan < IE *bhlēig-, to gleam (> bleak) < base *bhel-, to gleam > black, ON blikja, turn pale

intransitive verb

to become white, colorless, or pale

noun

  1. a bleaching or whitening
  2. any substance used for bleaching
  3. the degree of whiteness resulting from bleaching

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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