First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1bleach
verb \ˈblēch\
: to remove color or dirt and stains from (hair, clothing, etc.) especially through the effect of sunlight or by using chemicals : to make (something) whiter or lighter in color
Full Definition of BLEACH
transitive verb
1
: to remove color or stains from
2
a : to make whiter or lighter especially by physical or chemical removal of color <bleach clothing> <the sun had bleached her hair> b : to remove, make dull, or sanitize as if by removing color <bleaches colonialism of its genocidal legacy — H. A. Giroux>
intransitive verb
1
: to grow white or lose color
2
of coral : to expel symbiotic zooxanthellae exposing a white skeleton
— bleach·able \ˈblē-chə-bəl\ adjective
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Origin of BLEACH
Middle English blechen, from Old English blǣcean; akin to Old English blāc pale; probably akin to Latin flagrare to burn — more at black
Related to BLEACH
2bleach
noun
: a strong chemical that is used to make something clean or white
Full Definition of BLEACH
1
: the act or process of bleaching
2
: a preparation used in bleaching
3
: the degree of whiteness obtained by bleaching
See bleach defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of BLEACH
1887
BLEACHED Defined for Kids
1bleach
verb \ˈblēch\
bleachedbleach·ing
Definition of BLEACH for Kids
: to make white by removing the color or stains from
2bleach
noun
Definition of BLEACH for Kids
: a chemical used for bleaching
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