To treat with bleach, especially so as to whiten (fabric, paper, etc.) or lighten (hair).

To be whitened or lightened (by the sun, for example).

(of corals) to lose color due to stress-induced expulsion of symbiotic unicellular algae.

“Once coral bleaching begins, corals tend to continue to bleach even if the stressor is removed.”

Whitened; made white using bleach

“Bleached cotton”

Faded or washed out by weather and strong sunlight.

Having the hair lightened by bleaching.