bleached; bleaching; bleaches
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
H. A. Giroux1
: to grow white or lose color
2
of coral
: to expel symbiotic zooxanthellae exposing a white skeleton
1
: the act or process of bleaching
2
: a preparation used in bleaching
3
: the degree of whiteness obtained by bleaching
Synonyms
Examples of bleach in a Sentence
Verb
bones bleached white by the sun
She bleached her hair blonde.
Recent Examples on the Web
Merve Ceylan, Health, 14 Oct. 2024
Their data shows 77 percent of the world's coral reefs are affected by bleaching.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024
Tim Stelloh, NBC News, 19 Nov. 2024
The company claims there are no fillers, chemical dyes, pesticides, bleach, carcinogenic adhesives or chemical flame retardants.
—Scott Gilbertson, WIRED, 2 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bleach 
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Verb
However, refined oils (that may be bleached or heated) lose some antioxidants, so they're generally added later as additives.27
Deep vs. Shallow Frying
Oxygen is needed to produce lipid oxidation products; therefore, shallow frying causes more lipid oxidation products.
—Merve Ceylan, Health, 14 Oct. 2024
Their data shows 77 percent of the world's coral reefs are affected by bleaching.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024
Noun
Her face appeared to have been doused in bleach, according to a forensic pathologist who reviewed her autopsy for NBC News.
—Tim Stelloh, NBC News, 19 Nov. 2024
The company claims there are no fillers, chemical dyes, pesticides, bleach, carcinogenic adhesives or chemical flame retardants.
—Scott Gilbertson, WIRED, 2 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bleach
Dictionary Entries Near bleach
Cite this Entry
“Bleach.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bleach. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bleach
1 of 2 verb1
: to remove color or stains from
2
: to make whiter or lighter
3
: to grow white : lose color
bleach
2 of 2 noun1
: the act or process of bleaching
2
: a chemical used in bleaching
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