/ bliːtʃ; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
to make sth white or pale by a chemical process or by the effect of light from the sun; to become white or pale in this way :
[ vn ]
His hair was bleached by the sun .
bleached cotton / paper
[ vn - adj ]
She bleached her hair blonde.
[ v ]
bones of animals bleaching in the sun
■ noun
[ U , C ] a chemical that is used to make sth become white or pale and as a disinfectant (= to prevent infection from spreading)
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English blǣcan (verb), blǣce (noun), from blǣc pale , of Germanic origin; related to bleak .