blanch

blanch

verb \ˈblanch\

Definition of BLANCH

transitive verb

: to take the color out of: as

a : to bleach by excluding light

b : to scald or parboil in water or steam in order to remove the skin from, whiten, or stop enzymatic action in (as food for freezing)

c : to make ashen or pale <fear blanches the cheek>

intransitive verb

: to become white or pale

— blanch·er noun

Examples of BLANCH

1. Blanch the potatoes before slicing them.
2. a cup of blanched almonds
3. She blanched and remained silent when the store owner accused her of taking the money.

Origin of BLANCH

Middle English blaunchen, from Anglo-French blanchir, from blanc, adjective, white — more at blank

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to BLANCH

Synonyms

whiten, bleach, blench, decolorize, dull, fade, pale, snow, wash out

Antonyms

darken, deepen, embrown

Related Words

brighten, lighten; dim, mat (also matte or matt); etiolate; whitewash; frost, silver

Near Antonyms

blacken; blotch, checker, dapple, daub, discolor, fleck, marble, mottle, pattern, polychrome, shade, speck, speckle, splotch, spot, streak, striate, stripe, tarnish, variegate; color, dye, paint, pigment, stain, tincture, tinge, tint; burnish, polish, shine

Rhymes with BLANCH

branch, ranch, stanch