whiten
/'waitn/
Definition
Verb (transitive):
- To make something white or lighter in color; to bleach or cause to become white.
- To apply a white substance to a surface.
Verb (intransitive):
- To become white or lighter in color.
- To turn pale, as from fear, illness, or shock.
Usage and Examples
Transitive Verb (to make something white):
- This special powder will whiten your teeth effectively.
- She used bleach to whiten the old, yellowed tablecloth.
- The painter will whiten the fence before applying the final coat.
Intransitive Verb (to become white):
- The sheets whitened in the bright sun.
- His face whitened with fear when he heard the news.
Advanced Usage
"to whiten with age": to become white or pale over a long period.
- The old photograph had whitened with age around the edges.
"to whiten one's hair": to cause hair to become white or gray, often used metaphorically.
- The years of worry had whitened his hair.
Variants and Related Words
Whitener (noun): A substance used to make something white.
- She added a fabric whitener to the wash.
Whitening (noun/gerund): The process of making or becoming white.
- Tooth whitening is a popular cosmetic procedure.
Synonyms
- Bleach: To make white or colorless by using chemicals or sunlight.
- Blanch: To whiten by removing color; often used for vegetables or to describe a face turning pale.
- Lighten: To make or become lighter in color or shade.
Phrasal Verbs
(Note: "Whiten" is not commonly used in phrasal verb constructions. The action is typically expressed directly.)
Related Idioms
- "whiten the sepulchre": This is a literary or biblical allusion (from Matthew 23:27) meaning to make something outwardly pure or clean while it is corrupt within; to engage in hypocrisy.
- His public apologies were merely an attempt to whiten the sepulchre of his corrupt administration.
Verb
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turn white
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This detergent will whiten your laundry
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