bleach

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.

“The sun will bleach the wood of the deck over time if you don't paint it.”

“She decided to bleach her hair before applying the bright blue dye to ensure the color appeared as vivid as possible.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Science Technical

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.

“Rising ocean temperatures cause the coral reefs to bleach and eventually die.”

“Marine biologists observed that the reef began to bleach rapidly following the unprecedented heatwave in the Pacific.”

C2 · Proficiency Literary

v. to take away the feeling, power, or meaning from something.

v. to divest something of its original meaning, character, or emotional intensity.

“The politician's speech was so repetitive that it seemed to bleach the words of all meaning.”

“Years of bureaucratic repetition had served to bleach the original revolutionary fervor from the party's manifesto.”