<p><strong>Verb (used with object)</strong></p><ul><li>to whiten by removing color; bleach: Workers were blanching linen in the sun.</li><li>to scald briefly and then drain, as peaches or almonds to facilitate removal of skins, or as rice or macaroni to separate the grains or strands.</li><li>to scald or parboil (meat or vegetables) so as to whiten, remove the odor, prepare for cooking by other means, etc.</li><li>(of the stems or leaves of plants, as celery or leeks) to whiten or prevent from becoming green by excluding light.</li><li>to give a white luster to (metals), as by means of acids.</li><li>to coat (sheet metal) with tin.</li><li>to make pale, as with sickness or fear: The long illness had blanched her cheeks of their natural color.</li></ul><p><strong>Verb (used without object)</strong></p><ul><li>to become white; turn pale: The very thought of going made him blanch.</li></ul>