whitewash

C2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˈwaɪtwɒʃ/ See IPA manual

Freq #35765

Meanings

1

verb
cover with whitewash

Whitewash walls.
2

verb
cover up a misdemeanor, fault, or error

Let's not whitewash the crimes of Stalin.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 verb · cover up a misdemeanor,... gloss overhush upsleek over

More gloze

Opposites

blackwash

Word family

Forms whitewashedwhitewasheswhitewashing

Derived forms bluewashbrownwashcloudwashgreenwashopenwashpinkwashpurplewashwhitewashedwhitewasherwhitewashing

Related forms colourwashblackwash

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.

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

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