Peroxide is a chemical that is often used for making hair lighter in colour. It can also be used to kill germs.
2. See also hydrogen peroxide
peroxide in British English
(pəˈrɒksaɪd)
noun
1.
short for hydrogen peroxide, esp when used for bleaching hair
2.
any of a class of metallic oxides, such as sodium peroxide, Na2O2, that contain the divalent ion –O-O–
3. (not in technical usage)
any of certain dioxides, such as manganese peroxide, MnO2, that resemble peroxides in their formula but do not contain the –O-O– ion
4.
any of a class of organic compounds whose molecules contain two oxygen atoms bound together. They tend to be explosive
5. (modifier)
of, relating to, bleached with, or resembling peroxide
verb
6. (transitive)
to bleach (the hair) with peroxide
peroxide in American English
(pərˈɑkˌsaɪd)
noun
1.
any oxide containing the O2 group in which the two atoms of oxygen are linked by a single bond; specif., hydrogen peroxide
verb transitiveWord forms: perˈoxˌided or perˈoxˌiding
2.
to treat with a peroxide; esp. to bleach (hair, etc.) with hydrogen peroxide
adjective
3.
bleached with hydrogen peroxide
Word origin
per- + oxide
Examples of 'peroxide' in a sentence
peroxide
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.Read more…
This means more ozone around us; more hydrogen peroxide.
Radford, Tim & Leggett, Jeremy The Crisis of Life on Earth - our legacy from the second millenium (1990)
Well, the combination of grey suit and peroxide hair has decided it for me.
The Sun (2009)
Avoid products that contain alcohol, peroxide and lemon, as these ingredients will increase sun damage.
The Sun (2012)
I lay back in the chair as guards were fitted, hydrogen peroxide gel applied and my teeth gently warmed.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
This comprises syringes of peroxide bleach that are injected into a special mould, like a gum shield, that fits over the teeth.
The Sun (2012)
I just had to deal with it - that's what happens when you peroxide your hair for years.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
All related terms of 'peroxide'
barium peroxide
a gray-white powder , BaO 2 , used as a bleach and in making hydrogen peroxide
peroxide blonde
You can refer to a woman whose hair has been artificially been made lighter in colour as a peroxide blonde , especially when you want to show that you disapprove of this, or that you think her hair looks unnatural or unattractive .
sodium peroxide
a yellowish-white odourless soluble powder formed when sodium reacts with an excess of oxygen : used as an oxidizing agent in chemical preparations , a bleaching agent, an antiseptic , and in removing carbon dioxide from air in submarines , etc. Formula: Na 2 O 2
benzoyl peroxide
a white, crystalline, water-insoluble, explosive solid, C 7 H 5 O 4 , used chiefly as a bleaching agent for flour , fats , oils, and waxes , and as a catalyst in polymerization reactions
hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical that is often used to make hair lighter or to kill germs .
nitrogen peroxide
the equilibrium mixture of nitrogen dioxide and dinitrogen tetroxide