bleach
Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary
Contents |
[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
Middle English blechen, from Old English blǣcean, derivation of blāc "pale", from Germanic *blaikos
[edit] Pronunciation
-
- Rhymes: -iːtʃ
[edit] Noun
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Singular |
Plural |
bleach (countable and uncountable; plural bleaches)
- (uncountable) A chemical, such as sodium hypochlorite or hydrogen peroxide, or a preparation of such a chemical, used for disinfecting or whitening.
- (countable) A variety of bleach.
[edit] Translations
chemical
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[edit] Verb
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Infinitive |
Third person singular |
Simple past |
Past participle |
Present participle |
to bleach (third-person singular simple present bleaches, present participle bleaching, simple past and past participle bleached)
- (transitive) To treat with bleach, especially so as to whiten (fabric, paper, etc) or lighten (hair).
- (intransitive, biology) For corals to lose color due to stress-induced expulsion of symbiotic unicellular algae.
- Once coral bleaching begins, corals tend to continue to bleach even if the stressor is removed.
[edit] Synonyms
[edit] Translations
to treat with bleach
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