branquiçar

Branquiçar is a Portuguese verb that describes the process of becoming white or losing color, often due to the action of something else. It can refer to the fading of a fabric's dye when exposed to sunlight or washed too many times, or to the whitening of hair as a person ages. In a more metaphorical sense, it can describe the act of blanching or becoming pale from fear or shock.

The etymology of branquiçar traces back to the word "branco," meaning white in Portuguese. The suffix "-izar" is a common verb-forming suffix, indicating the action of becoming or causing to become something. Therefore, branquiçar literally means to make white or to become white.

Examples of branquiçar in use include describing how a colorful shirt branquiçou after being left out in the sun for too long. It can also be used to explain why someone's hair branquiçou with age, or how a person's face branquiçou when they heard bad news. The verb is generally used in informal and everyday contexts, though it can appear in more literary or descriptive writing. While not a highly technical term, it effectively conveys the concept of losing color or turning white.