déteindre

to bleed (colour)

verb deh-TEHN-druh Rare

Also means

to run (dye)

Usage Note

Déteindre primarily means for a fabric to lose its colour or for dye to run and stain another fabric — ce tissu déteint au lavage ('this fabric runs in the wash'). Figuratively, déteindre sur quelqu'un means 'to rub off on someone', as in habits or personality traits. It is an irregular verb conjugated like peindre: present tense je déteins, past participle déteint.

Examples

"Ta chemise rouge a déteint sur mon linge blanc."

Natural Translation

Your red shirt ran onto my white laundry.

Literal Translation

Your red shirt bled onto my white linen.

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