| blea | The part of a tree which lies immediately under the bark; the alburnum or sapwood. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| bleaberry | <botany> See Blaeberry. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| bleach | To make white, or whiter; to remove the colour, or stains, from; to blanch; to whiten. "The destruction of the colouring 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) Origin: OE. Blakien, blechen, v. T. & v. I, AS. Blacian, blcan, to grow pale; akin to Icel. Bleikja, Sw. Bleka, Dan. Blege, D. Bleeken, G. Bleichen, AS. Blac pale. See Bleak. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| bleached | Whitened; make white. "Let their bleached bones, and blood's unbleaching stain, Long mark the battlefield with hideous awe." (Byron) Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| bleached wax | Yellow wax bleached by being rolled very thin and exposed to the light and air, or bleached by chemical oxidants; same uses as yellow wax. Synonym: bleached wax, white beeswax. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bleaching | The act or process of whitening, by removing colour or stains; especially. The process of whitening fabrics by chemical agents. Bleaching powder, a powder for bleaching, consisting of chloride of lime, or some other chemical or chemicals. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| bleaching powder | A mixture of varying proportions of complexes of chlorine with calcium oxide and calcium hydroxide. Contains 24-37% available chlorine. Decomposes in moist conditions to liberate chlorine. Strong irritant due to chlorine vapors. Used for disinfecting drinking water, sewage etc.; in the bleaching of wood pulp, linen, cotton, straw, oils, soaps, and laundry; as an oxidiser; in destroying caterpillars; and as a decontaminant for mustard gas and similar substances. Synonym: bleaching powder. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bleak | <marine biology> A small European river fish (Leuciscus alburnus), of the family Cyprinidae; the blay. Alternative forms: blick. The silvery pigment lining the scales of the bleak is used in the manufacture of artificial pearls. Origin: From Bleak, cf. Blay. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| bleareye | <ophthalmology> A disease of the eyelids, consisting in chronic inflammation of the margins, with a gummy secretion of sebaceous matter. Blepharitis accompanied by a viscid discharge that tends to cause the lid edges to cling together. Synonym: lippitude, lippitudo. (06 Mar 2000) |
| bleary eye | Sore, runny, watery eye with an associated lackluster appearance and, by extension, dimness of vision. (05 Mar 2000) |