Bleach
/bliːtʃ/
nounverbB1
Definition
Bleach is a strong chemical that removes color, especially stains or dirt, and makes things white or very clean. People often use bleach to clean clothes, surfaces, or water to kill germs. As a verb, "to bleach" means to use this chemical to make something lighter or clean.
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⚡ See It in Action
A chemical used for whitening and cleaning
- •She added bleach to the laundry to make the white shirts brighter.
- •The pool water was treated with bleach to keep it clean.
- •Be careful not to mix bleach with other cleaners.
To make something white or clean using bleach
- •I need to bleach the stained shirt to remove the spots.
- •The old wood was bleached to look fresh and new.
- •They bleached the bathroom tiles to get rid of mold.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "bleach" like "clean," but much stronger because it removes color, not just dirt
- ✓Picture white clothes that were once colorful but now look bright and clean after using bleach
- ✓It's the feeling of fresh, very clean clothes or a shiny white bathroom after cleaning
- ✓Sounds like "bleach" → imagine a beach covered in white sand, very bright and clean
- ✓Remember how your white T-shirt becomes very white after washing with bleach
- ✓NOT like "wash" (just removes dirt), bleach removes color and kills germs too
- ✓NOT like "paint" (adds color), bleach takes color away
- ✓NOT like "rinse" (just uses water), bleach uses chemicals to change color and clean deeply
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Whiten: to make something white (Use when focusing only on color, not cleaning or disinfecting)
- •Disinfect: to kill germs and bacteria (Use when the main goal is to remove germs, not color)
- •Rinse: to wash lightly with water (Use when cleaning without chemicals or color change)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: (no prefix or suffix) root word "bleach"
- •Etymology: From Old English "blǣcan," meaning "to whiten, bleach"
- •Historical development: Originally meant to whiten cloth by sun or chemicals; now mainly chemical use
- •Modern usage: Commonly used as a noun for the chemical and as a verb for the action of whitening or disinfecting
💭 Reflect & Connect
•How does using bleach change the way you think about cleaning compared to just washing with water?
•Can bleach be harmful if used too much? How do we balance its power with safety?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.People use bleach to ___ clothes when they want to remove color or stains.
2.Bleach is often added to water to ___ germs and make it safe to drink.
3.Unlike normal soap, bleach can ___ color from fabric as well as clean it.
4.You should never mix bleach ___ other cleaning chemicals because it can be dangerous.
5.When a shirt is very dirty, you might need to ___ it to make it look white again.
6.Bleach works best on white or light clothes because it can ___ colored fabrics.
7.After using bleach, it is important to ___ the item well to remove any chemical smell.