whitewash

== English == === 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. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation, wine–whine merger) IPA(key): /ˈwaɪtwɒʃ/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈʍaɪtˌwɑʃ/, /ˈʍɐɪt-/, (wine–whine merger) /ˈwaɪt-/ (Canadian raising) IPA(key): /ˈʍɐɪtˌwɑʃ/, (wine–whine merger) /ˈwɐɪt-/ Hyphenation: white‧wash === Noun === whitewash (countable and uncountable, plural whitewashes) (uncountable) A mixture of a powdered mineral substance (often slaked lime (containing calcium hydroxide), chalk (calcium carbonate), or both) and water which is used for painting surfaces such as fences and walls bright white. Near-synonym: limewash (often coinstantial) (countable, figurative) A thing used to hide mistakes, or to create an appearance of honesty, propriety, etc.; also (often politics), an act of hiding mistakes or creating an appearance of honesty, propriety, etc.; especially, a campaign, investigation, etc., which intentionally hides or overlooks unfavourable facts. Antonym: blackwash Coordinate term: eyewash (business) An act of clearing a person's debts, especially through a declaration of bankruptcy by a court. (sports, originally baseball) A complete victory or series of victories without suffering any losses; a clean sweep; also, a victory or series of victories by a very large margin. (uncountable, cooking) The most basic type of thickening agent, consisting of flour blended with water to make a paste. (countable, cosmetics, historical) A preparation for making the skin look lighter. (obsolete) (pharmacology, countable) Any of several medicinal preparations for treating skin diseases consisting of a mixture of a metallic compound (such as one of lead, sulfur, or zinc) and water. (wine, slang, uncountable) White wine, especially Madeira or sherry, drunk after dinner or after taking claret and port; (countable) a glass of such wine. ==== Derived terms ==== whitewashed (adjective) whitewash gum ==== Related terms ==== colourwash ==== Translations ==== === Verb === whitewash (third-person singular simple present whitewashes, present participle whitewashing, simple past and past participle whitewashed) (transitive) To paint (a building, a wall, etc.) a bright white with whitewash. Near-synonym: limewash (often coinstantial) (figurative) (derogatory) To distort or give a misleading account of (history, a narrative, etc.) by discounting the participation of people of colour and focusing on white people. (chiefly film, television) To cast a white actor in a role for a person of colour in (a film, television programme, etc.). (media) To make over (someone of colour) so that they appear more white, for example, by applying lightening makeup to their skin or digitally manipulating an image of them. (chiefly literary and poetic, often passive voice) To cover or coat (something) with a white substance, as if with whitewash (noun sense 1); also, to light up (something) with white light. (business) To clear (someone's) debts, especially through a declaration of bankruptcy by a court; also, to clear or write off (a debt). (often politics) To hide (someone's) mistakes, or to create an appearance of honesty, propriety, etc., for (someone); also, to intentionally hide or overlook (mistakes, unfavourable facts, wrongdoing, etc.). Synonyms: cover up; gloss over; paper over Antonym: blackwash (sports, originally baseball, informal) To achieve a complete victory or series of victories over (an opponent) without suffering any losses; also, to achieve a victory or series of victories over (an opponent) by a very large margin. Synonym: (slang) skunk (cosmetics, archaic or historical) To make (the face, etc.) look lighter with makeup or a similar preparation. (obsolete) Synonym of bleach (“to treat (fabric) with a substance which lightens or whitens”). (intransitive) To paint bright white with whitewash (noun sense 1). (figurative, business) To have debts cleared through a declaration of bankruptcy by a court. (masonry, archaic) Of bricks: to become encrusted with a white layer of soluble salts due to efflorescence. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === References === === Further reading === whitewash on Wikipedia.Wikipedia whitewash (sport) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia whitewashing (beauty) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia whitewashing (communications) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia whitewashing in film on Wikipedia.Wikipedia whitewash (disambiguation) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia J[ohn] C[amden] H[otten] (1864), “WHITEWASH”, in The Slang Dictionary; […], London: John Camden Hotten, […], →OCLC, page 270.