Bleach: meaning, definitions and examples

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bleach

 

[ bliːtʃ ]

Noun / Verb
Context #1 | Noun

household cleaning

A chemical used for cleaning and whitening clothes or surfaces by removing stains or color.

Synonyms

cleaner, disinfectant, whitener.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
bleach

mostly used for removing color or stains, especially in laundry and household cleaning.

  • I used bleach to get rid of the wine stain on my white shirt
  • Make sure to open the windows when using bleach

Examples of usage

  • The bleach is used to remove tough stains from white clothes.
  • She used bleach to clean the bathroom tiles.
Context #2 | Verb

cleaning

To clean or whiten something using bleach.

Synonyms

cleanse, disinfect, whiten.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
bleach

This entry seems to be duplicated and should be merged with the previous one.

  • Not applicable.
whiten

Used to make something whiter in color, often related to teeth or laundry. Generally has positive connotations.

  • She wants to whiten her teeth before the wedding.
  • The new detergent claims to whiten clothes better than any other.
cleanse

Used for thorough cleaning, often in a way that removes impurities or toxins. Commonly used in skincare and health contexts.

  • She uses a special gel to cleanse her face every night.
  • The detox program promises to cleanse the body from harmful substances.
disinfect

Used to eliminate bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens. Often used in medical or cleaning contexts.

  • You should disinfect the wound to prevent infection.
  • Hospitals disinfect rooms multiple times a day.

Examples of usage

  • She decided to bleach her hair blonde.
  • I need to bleach the kitchen countertops to remove the stains.

Translations

Translations of the word "bleach" in other languages:

🇵🇹 alvejante

🇮🇳 ब्लीच

🇩🇪 Bleichmittel

🇮🇩 pemutih

🇺🇦 відбілювач

🇵🇱 wybielacz

🇯🇵 漂白剤 (ひょうはくざい)

🇫🇷 eau de Javel

🇪🇸 lejía

🇹🇷 çamaşır suyu

🇰🇷 표백제 (pyobaekje)

🇸🇦 مبيض

🇨🇿 bělidlo

🇸🇰 bielidlo

🇨🇳 漂白剂 (piǎobái jì)

🇸🇮 belilo

🇮🇸 bleikiefni

🇰🇿 ағартқыш

🇬🇪 გამათეთრებელი

🇦🇿 ağartıcı

🇲🇽 lejía

Etymology

The word 'bleach' originated from the Old English 'blǣcan' which meant 'to whiten'. It has been used for centuries to clean and whiten various materials. The modern use of bleach as a cleaning agent dates back to the 18th century when it was discovered that chlorine could be used to disinfect and whiten surfaces.

See also: bleached, bleaching.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #19,148, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.