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white (hwît, wît)
n.
The achromatic color of maximum lightness; the color of objects that reflect nearly all light of all visible wavelengths; the complement or antagonist of black, the other extreme of the neutral gray series. Although typically a response to maximum stimulation of the retina, the perception of white appears always to depend on contrast.
The white or nearly white part, as:
The albumen of an egg.
The white part of an eyeball.
A blank unprinted area, as of an advertisement.
One that is white or nearly white, as:
whites White trousers or a white outfit of a special nature: tennis whites.
whites The white dress uniform of the U.S. Navy or Coast Guard.
A white wine.
A white pigment.
A white breed, species, or variety of animal.
also White A member of a racial group of people having light skin coloration, especially one of European origin. See Usage Note at black.
Products of a white color, such as flour, salt, and sugar. Often used in the plural.
Games.
The white or light-colored pieces, as in chess.
The player using these pieces.
The outermost ring of an archery target.
A hit in this ring.
whites Pathology. Leukorrhea.
A politically ultraconservative or reactionary person.
adj., whit·er, whit·est.
Being of the color white; devoid of hue, as new snow.
Approaching the color white, as:
Weakly colored; almost colorless; pale: white wine.
Pale gray; silvery and lustrous: white hair.
Bloodless; blanched.
Light or whitish in color or having light or whitish parts. Used with animal and plant names.
also White Of or belonging to a racial group having light skin coloration, especially one of European origin: voting patterns within the white population.
Not written or printed on; blank.
Unsullied; pure.
Habited in white: white nuns.
Accompanied by or mantled with snow: a white Christmas.
Incandescent: white flames.
Intensely heated; impassioned: white with fury.
Ultraconservative or reactionary.
With milk added. Used of tea or coffee.
tr.v., whit·ed, whit·ing, whites.
Printing. To create or leave blank spaces in (printed or illustrated matter). Often used with out.
Archaic.
To whiten; whitewash.
To blanch.
[Middle English, from Old English hwît.]
white'ness n.
Antonyms
white
adj
Definition: extremely pale; clean
Antonyms: black, dark, dirty
The noun white has 3 meanings:
Meaning #1: the quality or state of the achromatic color of greatest lightness (bearing the least resemblance to black)
Synonym: whiteness
Antonym: black (meaning #1)
Meaning #2: (chess or checkers) the lighter pieces
Antonym: black (meaning #6)
Meaning #3: (usually in the plural) trousers
Synonyms: flannel, gabardine, tweed
The verb white has one meaning:
Meaning #1: turn white
Synonym: whiten
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The adjective white has 14 meanings:
Meaning #1: being of the achromatic color of maximum lightness; having little or no hue owing to reflection of almost all incident light
Synonym: achromatic
Antonym: black (meaning #1)
Meaning #2: of or belonging to a racial group having light skin coloration
Antonym: black (meaning #2)
Meaning #3: (of wine) almost colorless
Antonym: red (meaning #6)
Meaning #4: free from moral blemish or impurity; unsullied
Meaning #5: marked by the presence of snow
Synonym: snowy
Meaning #6: restricted to whites only
Synonym: lily-white
Meaning #7: glowing white with heat
Synonym: white-hot
Meaning #8: benevolent; without malicious intent
Meaning #9: of a surface; not written or printed on
Synonyms: blank, clean
Meaning #10: (of coffee) having cream or milk added
Meaning #11: dressed (or especially habited) in white
Meaning #12: (of hair) having lost its color
Synonym: whitened
Meaning #13: ash-colored or anemic looking from illness or emotion
Synonyms: ashen, blanched, bloodless, livid
Meaning #14: of summer nights in northern latitudes where the sun barely sets
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