bleach Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the whiteness that results from removing the color from something
    • a complete bleach usually requires several applications
  2. noun an agent that makes things white or colorless
    blanching agent; whitener; bleaching agent.
  3. noun the act of whitening something by bleaching it (exposing it to sunlight or using a chemical bleaching agent)
  4. verb remove color from
    bleach out; decolorize; decolorise; discolourise; discolorise; decolour; decolourise; decolor; decolourize; discolorize.
    • The sun bleached the red shirt
  5. verb make whiter or lighter
    • bleach the laundry

WordNet

Bleach transitive verb
Etymology
OE. blakien, blechen, v. t. & v. i., AS. blacian, blcan, to grow pale; akin to Icel. bleikja, Sw. bleka, Dan. blege, D. bleeken, G. bleichen, AS. blac pale. See Bleak, a.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Bleached present participle & verbal noun Bleaching
Definitions
  1. To make white, or whiter; to remove the color, or stains, from; to blanch; to whiten.
    The destruction of the coloring matters attached to the bodies to be bleached is effected either by the action of the air and light, of chlorine, or of sulphurous acid. Ure.
    Immortal liberty, whose look sublime Hath bleached the tyrant's cheek in every varying clime. Smollett.
Bleach intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To grow white or lose color; to whiten.

Webster 1913