decolorize

English

Alternative forms

• decolourise, decolourize (Commonwealth)
• decolorise

Etymology

de- +‎ color +‎ -ize

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /diːˈkʌləɹaɪz/, /diːˈkʊləɹaɪz/

Verb

decolorize (third-person singular simple present decolorizes, present participle decolorizing, simple past and past participle decolorized)

1. (US, transitive) To remove the color from.
2. (US, intransitive) To lose one’s color.
   • 1912 November, Edwin Henry Schorer, “Experimental Studies on Milk”, in Ludvig Hektoen, Edwin O. Jordan, editors, The Journal of Infectious Diseases, volume II, number 3, page 331:

     According to Rühm fresh milk remains blue for 12 hours or more, and infected milk decolorizes in less than one hour.