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Whiten: meaning, definitions and examples

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whiten

 

[ ˈwaɪtən ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

teeth

To whiten means to make something white or whiter, especially by using a chemical or bleach. It is commonly used in the context of teeth whitening.

Synonyms

bleach, brighten, lighten

Examples of usage

  • My dentist recommended a special toothpaste to help whiten my teeth.
  • She used a whitening strip to whiten her teeth before the wedding.
Context #2 | Verb

laundry

To whiten can also refer to the process of making something white or whiter, such as clothes or fabrics, by using a detergent or bleach.

Synonyms

bleach, cleanse, purify

Examples of usage

  • She added bleach to the laundry to help whiten the white clothes.
  • Using a whitening agent can help whiten your white linens.

Translations

Translations of the word "whiten" in other languages:

🇵🇹 branquear

🇮🇳 सफेद करना (safed karna)

🇩🇪 weißen

🇮🇩 memutihkan

🇺🇦 білити

🇵🇱 bielić

🇯🇵 白くする (shiroku suru)

🇫🇷 blanchir

🇪🇸 blanquear

🇹🇷 beyazlatmak

🇰🇷 희게 하다 (huige hada)

🇸🇦 تبييض (tabyid)

🇨🇿 bělit

🇸🇰 bieliť

🇨🇳 漂白 (piǎobái)

🇸🇮 beliti

🇮🇸 hvítta

🇰🇿 ақтау

🇬🇪 გათეთრება (gatetra)

🇦🇿 ağartmaq

🇲🇽 blanquear

Etymology

The word 'whiten' is derived from the Middle English word 'whitenen', which is a combination of 'white' and the suffix '-en' meaning 'to make'. The concept of whitening has been important throughout history, symbolizing purity, cleanliness, and brightness. From whitening teeth to whitening fabrics, the desire for whiter items has been a common practice in many cultures.

See also: white, whitened, whitener, whiteness, whitening, whiteout, whiter, whitewater.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #31,894 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.