Dictionary

blanch

verb \ˈblanch\

: to put (food items) in boiling water or steam for a short time

: to suddenly have less color in your face because you are afraid, embarrassed, etc.

Full Definition of BLANCH

transitive verb
:  to take the color out of: as
a :  to scald or parboil in water or steam in order to remove the skin from, whiten, or stop enzymatic action in (as food for freezing)
b :  to bleach by excluding light
c :  to make ashen or pale <fear blanches the cheek>
intransitive verb
:  to become white or pale
blanch·er noun
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Origin of BLANCH

Middle English blaunchen, from Anglo-French blanchir, from blanc, adjective, white — more at blank
First Known Use: 14th century

Rhymes with BLANCH

BLANCHED Defined for Kids

blanch

verb \ˈblanch\
blanchedblanch·ing

Definition of BLANCH for Kids

1
2
:  to scald so as to remove the skin from <Blanch the tomatoes.>
3
:  to turn pale <Sickened by the news, I blanched and turned away.>

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