bleed Meaning, Definition & Usage

verb lose blood from one's body
shed blood; hemorrhage.
verb draw blood
phlebotomise; phlebotomize; leech.
- In the old days, doctors routinely bled patients as part of the treatment
verb get or extort (money or other possessions) from someone
- They bled me dry--I have nothing left!
verb be diffused
run.
- These dyes and colors are guaranteed not to run
verb drain of liquid or steam
- bleed the radiators
- the mechanic bled the engine

OE. bleden, AS. bldan, fr. bld blood; akin to Sw. blöda, Dan. blöde, D. bloeden, G. bluten. See Blood.

imperfect & past participle Bled present participle & verbal noun Bleeding

To emit blood; to lose blood; to run with blood, by whatever means; as, the arm bleeds; the wound bled freely; to bleed at the nose.
To withdraw blood from the body; to let blood; as, Dr. A. bleeds in fevers.
To lose or shed one's blood, as in case of a violent death or severe wounds; to die by violence. "Cæsar must bleed." Shak.
The lamb thy riot dooms to bleed to-day. Pope.
To issue forth, or drop, as blood from an incision.
For me the balm shall bleed. Pope.
To lose sap, gum, or juice; as, a tree or a vine bleeds when tapped or wounded.
To pay or lose money; to have money drawn or extorted; as, to bleed freely for a cause. Colloq.

To let blood from; to take or draw blood from, as by opening a vein.
To lose, as blood; to emit or let drop, as sap.
A decaying pine of stately size, bleeding amber. H. Miller.
To draw money from (one); to induce to pay; as, they bled him freely for this fund. Colloq.