Definition of "whitewash" in Anglais

noun

1. (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.

2. 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.

3. An act of clearing a person's debts, especially through a declaration of bankruptcy by a court.

4. 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.

5. (uncountable, cooking) The most basic type of thickening agent, consisting of flour blended with water to make a paste.

6. (countable, cosmetics, historical) A preparation for making the skin look lighter.

7. 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.

8. White wine, especially Madeira or sherry, drunk after dinner or after taking claret and port; (countable) a glass of such wine.

verb

1. To paint (a building, a wall, etc.) a bright white with whitewash (noun noun, sense 1).

   • The houses looked very bright after they had whitewashed the whole neighbourhood.

2. 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.

3. To cover or coat (something) with a white substance, as if with whitewash (noun noun, sense 1); also, to light up (something) with white light.

4. To clear (someone's) debts, especially through a declaration of bankruptcy by a court; also, to clear or write off (a debt).

5. 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.).

   • In his sermon, the minister didn’t try to whitewash over the sins of his church.

6. 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.

   • Australia whitewashed the West Indies 3–0.

7. To make (the face, etc.) look lighter with makeup or a similar preparation.