Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to decolourize

to decolourize

7.7
To make something lose its color
  • verb
  • /dɪˈkʌləˌraɪz/
  • UK
: decolorar
  • Sunlight can decolourize fabrics left outdoors for too long.

Examples

  • The laboratory used chemicals to decolourize the solution before analysis.

  • Repeated washing will gradually decolourize bright garments.

  • You should decolourize that fabric before dyeing it.

  • The artist decided to decolourize the painting.

  • Sunlight can decolourize fabrics left outdoors for too long.

  • Repeated washing will gradually decolourize bright garments.

  • You should decolourize that fabric before dyeing it.

Synonyms

to bleach
vsto decolourize
30 3.2

To make something lighter in color, often using chemicals or sunlight

is more general, not limited to chemical or sunlight methods
to lighten
vsto decolourize
11 2.3

To make a place or color look brighter

specifically targets removing or reducing color toward whiteness
to whiten
vsto decolourize
10 2.8

Make or become more white in color

can include whitening but also milder lightening rather than full white
to discolor
vsto decolourize
  • US
4 4.1

To become faded or stained

focuses on deliberate removal or lightening rather than accidental color change
to bleach out
vsto decolourize
4 3.8

Make clothes and similar things much lighter in color, usually by sunlight or chemicals

covers the same result but not only by exposure methods
to wash out
vsto decolourize
3 4.0

Make a color on clothes become lighter when you clean them

describes lightening not limited to washing or laundering methods
to desaturate
vsto decolourize
  • Specialized
1 7.1

To make the colors in a picture less bright so it looks more gray

is broader and applies to physical objects beyond technical images
to white
vsto decolourize
1 5.9

To make something very light in color

is used for making things paler rather than only full whitening
to decolor
vsto decolourize
  • US
1 7.9

To make something lose its color or become lighter

focuses on the same removal or lightening of color
to decolorize
vsto decolourize
  • US
1 7.0

To take the color out of something like fabric or a photograph

is the same meaning but written with a different regional spelling
to discolorize
vsto decolourize
  • US
8.9

To make something lose its color or become lighter

uses the same idea but with the key's common wording
to achromatize
vsto decolourize
  • Specialized
9.9

To remove unwanted color from a lens so images have no colored edges

is the general process of removing or lightening color in any context

Antonyms

to dye
83 2.2

To change the color of something using a coloring liquid or powder

to color
  • US
75 1.0

To make something a different shade by painting or dyeing

How Colorless

to bleach
30 3.2
to decolourize
  • UK
7.7
to lighten
11 2.3
to fade
454 1.2

Surface Forms

decolourize infinitive
decolorize infinitive
decolourized past
decolorized past
decolourized past participle
decolorized past participle
decolourizing present participle
decolorizing present participle
decolourizes third person singular
decolorizes third person singular

Morphology

decolourize = colourize (transparent) = de + colour + ize

The meaning is directly understandable as reversing or removing the effect of 'colourize'.

Etymology

Decolourize comes from the parts de- ('remove'), colour ('color'), and -ize ('make'), so a helpful image is 'making without color'. So, to decolourize something is to remove or lighten its color.