C1verb2K

Bleed

UK /["/bliːd/","/bliːdz/","/bled/","/ˈbliːdɪŋ/"]/US /["/bliːd/","/bliːdz/","/bled/","/ˈbliːdɪŋ/"]/

Definition

to lose blood, especially from a wound or an injury

In simple words: To lose blood from the body.

Examples

  • My finger's bleeding.
  • She slowly **bled to death**.
  • He was bleeding from a gash on his head.
  • The small blood vessels in the nose bleed easily.
  • The company seems intent on bleeding us for every penny we have.
  • Keep the paint fairly dry so that the colours don't bleed into each other.
  • The big corporations are bleeding some of these small countries dry.
  • ‘I have to go to Brazil on business.’ ‘My heart bleeds for you!’

Usage notes

Used in medical contexts to describe injury or surgery. Can be used metaphorically for losing something valuable. Not typically used in formal writing.

Grammar pattern

bleed + object

Memory hint

Think of a wound that needs to 'lead' away blood — 'bleed' sounds like 'lead'.

Collocations

  • badly
  • heavily
  • profusely
  • from
  • bleed to death

Synonyms

  • drain
  • seep
  • exude
  • hemorrhage
  • lose blood

Antonyms

  • clot
  • heal

Common mistakes

  • Confused with 'bled', the past tense form.
  • Omitting the object, e.g., saying 'bleed' without specifying what's bleeding.
  • Using inappropriately in non-medical contexts.