Word
bleed
Meanings
to lose blood from the body
(of color or dye) to spread from one area into another, especially when wet
to lose something valuable steadily over time (such as money, staff, or support)
Definition
To bleed means to lose blood from the body because of an injury or medical condition.
To bleed is to have blood come out of the body, often after a cut, wound, or other injury. It can also mean that a material lets liquid color spread out into something else, especially when dyed fabric gets wet. In both uses, the idea is that something escapes or spreads beyond where it should stay.
Examples
- I started to bleed after I nicked my finger while chopping onions, so I wrapped it in a clean cloth.
- She was careful not to scrub the new blouse too hard, because the dye might bleed in warm water.
- They watched the team bleed talent over the year as experienced engineers left for other companies.
- You shouldn’t ignore a cut that continues to bleed for several minutes, even if it looks small.
Common mistake
Learners often confuse bleed with breed or write the past tense incorrectly; the correct past form is bled, not bleeded.
More at C1 level
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- conundrum A conundrum is a confusing and difficult problem to solve.
- pretentious Trying to seem more important, intelligent, or cultured than you really are.
More verbs
- analyze To examine something carefully in order to understand it or explain it.
- scrutinize To scrutinize something is to examine it very carefully and in detail.
- affect To affect something is to influence it or cause it to change.
- allude To allude means to mention or suggest something indirectly without saying it clearly.
- elude To elude someone or something is to avoid being caught, understood, or remembered.