Blanch means to cook food very quickly in boiling water. This changes the color and texture, usually making it lighter or softer. It helps remove skin or prepare food for freezing.
Blanch the spinach in hot water.
She blanched the almonds for the cake.
When someone blanches, their skin becomes very pale. This usually happens because they feel scared, shocked, or sick. It shows strong emotion or reaction.
She blanched when she saw the spider.
He blanched from the bad news.
Blanch can mean to make colors lighter or less bright. This can happen to objects or materials when exposed to light or chemicals. It means to lose original color.
The sun blanched the colors of the old painting.
The fabric blanched after many washes.
In plants, blanch means to cover parts so no light reaches them. This makes parts pale or white, often to improve flavor or appearance. It is a gardening technique.
Farmers blanch celery by covering it with soil.
Blanch the stalks to improve taste and color.
Blanch can mean to suddenly move back or shrink because of pain or fear. It shows a quick physical reaction to something unpleasant or scary.
He blanched at the sharp sound.
She blanched and stepped back quickly.
Blanch as a noun is rare. It means a pale or whitish color on something, like skin or a surface. It shows the state of being light in color.
There was a blanch on her cheeks after the fall.
The flower has a soft blanch on its petals.
