— bleachable , adj. — bleachability , n.
/bleech/ , v.t.
1. to make whiter or lighter in color, as by exposure to sunlight or a chemical agent; remove the color from.
2. Photog. to convert (the silver image of a negative or print) to a silver halide, either to remove the image or to change its tone.
v.i.
3. to become whiter or lighter in color.
n.
4. a bleaching agent.
5. degree of paleness achieved in bleaching.
6. an act of bleaching.
[ bef. 1050; ME blechen, OE blaecean, deriv. of blac pale; c. ON bleikja, OHG bleichen ]
Syn. 1. See whiten .