bleach
UK[bliːtʃ]US[bliːtʃ]
v
To make something white or pale by using chemicals or sunlight.
n
A strong chemical used for cleaning things, making them white, or killing germs.
Etymology
The word 'bleach' originates from the Old English verb 'blǣcan', meaning 'to make white'. This Old English term is derived from the adjective 'blāc', which meant 'pale, shining, white'. The semantic journey is direct and vivid: from a descriptive state ('pale, white') to the active process of causing that state ('to make white'). The Proto-Germanic root blaik- ('to shine, become white') lies at its core, which is further connected to the Proto-Indo-European root bhel- ('to shine, flash, burn'), a prolific root also giving rise to words like 'blank' and 'bleak'. The modern meaning retains this core logic of removing color through a process, whether by chemical action or exposure to light.
Analysis
The word 'bleach' is a simplex word of Old English origin. It functions as a single, unanalyzable morpheme in modern English.
Examples
She used chlorine to bleach the stained towels.
Avoid getting any household bleach on your skin or clothes.
The sun will gradually bleach the fabric if you leave it on the line.