Bleach, v. i. To grow white or lose
color; to whiten.
Bleach (?), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Bleached (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Bleaching.] [OE. blakien, blechen, v. t. & v. i., AS.
blācian, bl?can, to grow pale; akin to Icel.
bleikja, Sw. bleka, Dan. blege, D. bleeken, G.
bleichen, AS. blāc pale. See Bleak,
a.] To make white, or whiter; to remove the color,
or stains, from; to blanch; to whiten.
The destruction of the coloring matters attached to the
bodies to be bleached is effected either by the action of the air
and light, of chlorine, or of sulphurous acid.
Ure.
Immortal liberty, whose look sublime
Hath bleached the tyrant's cheek in every varying clime.
Smollett.