noun/verbpl: bleaches (noun)
alvejante; descolorir
1. (noun) A chemical substance used to remove color from fabric or to disinfect and whiten surfaces
I used bleach to clean the bathroom tiles.
Usei alvejante para limpar os azulejos do banheiro.
2. (verb) To make something lighter in color or white by chemical treatment
The sun will bleach your clothes if you leave them on the line too long.
O sol vai descolorir suas roupas se você deixá-las no varal por muito tempo.
3. (verb) To whiten or lighten the appearance of something
She decided to bleach her hair blonde.
Ela decidiu descolorir o cabelo para louro.
4. (noun) The process or act of bleaching
The bleach on the fabric caused permanent damage.
O alvejante no tecido causou dano permanente.
In Brazil, 'alvejante' and 'água sanitária' are essential household products due to climate and sanitation practices. Bleach is widely used for both laundry and disinfection. In the USA, bleach products like Clorox are iconic brands. The term is also used metaphorically in both cultures to describe extreme lightening of hair color.
NYC Slang
bleach - typically refers to cleaning product, no specific NYC slang variant
Related Idioms & Phrases
bleach out - to remove stains or color completely
bleach blonde - hair that has been bleached to a very light blonde color
bleached out - faded or lacking color due to sun or chemical exposure
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