whiten

whit·en

verb \ˈhwī-t^ən, ˈwī-\

whit·enedwhit·en·ing\ˈhwīt-niŋ, ˈwīt-, -^ən-iŋ\

Definition of WHITEN

transitive verb

: to make white or whiter <snow whitened the hills>

intransitive verb

: to become white or whiter

Examples of WHITEN

1. His hair whitened as he aged.
2. Bleach will whiten the linens.
3. The new toothpaste whitens teeth.

First Known Use of WHITEN

14th century

Related to WHITEN

Synonyms: blanch, bleach, blench, decolorize, dull, fade, pale, snow, wash out

Antonyms: darken, deepen, embrown

Related Words: brighten, lighten; dim, mat (also matte or matt); etiolate; whitewash; frost, silver

Near Antonyms: blacken; blotch, checker, dapple, daub, discolor, fleck, marble, mottle, pattern, polychrome, shade, speck, speckle, splotch, spot, streak, striate, stripe, tarnish, variegate; color, dye, paint, pigment, stain, tincture, tinge, tint; burnish, polish, shine

[+]more[-]hide

Rhymes with WHITEN

brighten, Brighton, chitin, chiton, frighten, heighten, lighten, tighten, titan, triton