Meanings
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1
verb
cover with whitewash
Whitewash walls.
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2
verb
cover up a misdemeanor, fault, or error
Let's not whitewash the crimes of Stalin.
Thesaurus
Synonyms
2
verb
· cover up a misdemeanor,...
gloss overhush upsleek over
More
gloze
Opposites
Word family
Forms
whitewashedwhitewasheswhitewashing
Derived forms
bluewashbrownwashcloudwashgreenwashopenwashpinkwashpurplewashwhitewashedwhitewasherwhitewashing
Etymology
The noun is derived from white (adjective) + wash (noun). Noun sense 5.1 (“medicinal preparation for treating skin diseases”) is a calque of New Latin lōtiō alba (literally “white wash”). The verb is derived partly from white (adjective) + wash (verb), and partly from the noun.