white

white [hwīt, wīt]

adj.

whiter, whitest [ME hwit < OE, akin to Ger weiss, ON hvitr, MDu wit < IE * kweid-, to gleam, bright, white > WHEAT, OSlav švěšta, a light, candle]

1. having the color of pure snow or milk; of the color of radiated, transmitted, or reflected light containing all of the visible rays of the spectrum; opposite to black: see COLOR

2. of a light or pale color; specif.,

a) gray; silvery; hoary

b) very blond

c) pale; wan; pallid; ashen [a face white with terror]

d) light-yellow or amber

e) blank: said of a space unmarked by printing, writing, etc.

f) of a light-gray color and lustrous appearance: said of silver and other metals

g) made of silver

h) snowy [a white Christmas]

3. lacking color; colorless [white creme de menthe]

4. clothed in white; wearing a white habit [the white Friars]

5. morally or spiritually pure; spotless; innocent

6. free from evil intent; relatively harmless [white magic, a white lie]

7.

a) [sometimes W-] having a light-colored skin; Caucasoid

b) [sometimes W-] of, controlled by, or restricted to Caucasoids

☆ c) [< notions of racial superiority] Slang honest; honorable; fair; decent

8. being at white heat

9. reactionary, counterrevolutionary, or royalist, as opposed to RED (adj. 4a)

10. Rare happy; fortunate; auspicious: said of times and seasons

n.

1.

a) white color

b) a white pigment, paint, or dye

2. the state of being white; specif.,

a) fairness of complexion

b) purity; innocence

3. a white or light-colored part; specif.,

a) the albumen of an egg

b) the white part of the eyeball

c) a blank space in printing, writing, etc.

d) the white or light-colored part of meat, wood, etc.

4. something white or light-colored; specif.,

a) white cloth

b) [pl.] white garments or vestments; white uniform

c) a white breed, esp. of pig

d) [pl.] a highly refined, usually bleached flour

e) short for WHITE BREAD

f) short for WHITE WINE

g) Chess the player or side with the white or lighter-colored pieces

5. [sometimes W-] a person with a light-colored skin; member of the Caucasoid division of humans

6. [often W-] a member of a reactionary or counterrevolutionary faction, party, etc. in certain European countries

7. [pl.] LEUKORRHEA

8. Archery

a) Archaic a white target

b) the outermost ring of a target

c) a hit on this ring

vt.

whited, whiting [ME whiten < OE hwitian < the adj.]

1. to make white; whiten

2. to leave blank spaces in or around (printed or written matter, illustrations, etc.): often with out

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bleed white

to drain (a person) completely of money, resources, etc.