bleach
- 01 B1 Intermediate
n.a strong liquid chemical used for cleaning, killing germs, or making clothes white.
n.a chemical solution, often containing sodium hypochlorite, used for disinfection or the removal of pigment from textiles and surfaces.
Simple“You should use a little bleach to get the stains out of those white towels.”
In context“The janitor used a diluted solution of bleach to ensure the laboratory surfaces were thoroughly disinfected after the experiment.”
UsageUncountable when referring to the substance in general; countable when referring to specific brands or types.
SynonymsdisinfectantwhitenerAntonyms - 02 B1 Intermediate
v.to make something whiter or lighter using chemicals or by leaving it in the sun.
v.to remove color from a substrate, such as fabric or hair, through chemical treatment or exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
Simple“The sun will bleach the wood of the deck over time if you don't paint it.”
In context“She decided to bleach her hair before applying the bright blue dye to ensure the color appeared as vivid as possible.”
UsageCan be used transitively with an object or intransitively to describe a natural process.
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.when coral turns white because the water is too warm or the environment is unhealthy.
v.to lose color due to the expulsion of symbiotic algae, typically as a stress response to increased water temperatures.
Simple“Rising ocean temperatures cause the coral reefs to bleach and eventually die.”
In context“Marine biologists observed that the reef began to bleach rapidly following the unprecedented heatwave in the Pacific.”
UsageUsually used in the context of marine biology and environmental science.
Synonyms - 04 C2 Proficiency
v.to take away the feeling, power, or meaning from something.
v.to divest something of its original meaning, character, or emotional intensity.
Simple“The politician's speech was so repetitive that it seemed to bleach the words of all meaning.”
In context“Years of bureaucratic repetition had served to bleach the original revolutionary fervor from the party's manifesto.”
Synonyms
From Middle English blechen, from Old English blǣċan (“to bleach, whiten”), from Proto-West Germanic blaikijan, from Proto-Germanic blaikijaną, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰel- (“to shine”). Cognate with Dutch bleken (“to bleach”), German bleichen (“to bleach”), Danish blege, Swedish bleka (“to bleach”). Related to Old English blāc (“pale”) (English blake; compare also bleak).
From Middle English bleche, from Old English blǣċu, blǣċo (“paleness, pallor”), from Proto-Germanic *blaikį̄ (“paleness”). See Etymology 1 above.
From Middle English bleche (also bleke), from Old English blǣċ, blǣc, variants of blāc (“bright, shining, glittering”), from Proto-West Germanic blaik, from Proto-Germanic blaikaz (“pale, shining”). More at bleak.
From Middle English bleche, from Old English blǣċe (“irritation of the skin, leprosy; psoriasis”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.