Definition of white

< Whitby

White, Andrew Dickson >

white    (hwt, wt) KEY 

NOUN:

1. 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.
2. The white or nearly white part, as:
   1. The albumen of an egg.
   2. The white part of an eyeball.
   3. A blank unprinted area, as of an advertisement.
3. One that is white or nearly white, as:
   1. whites White trousers or a white outfit of a special nature: tennis whites.
   2. whites The white dress uniform of the U.S. Navy or Coast Guard.
   3. A white wine.
   4. A white pigment.
   5. A white breed, species, or variety of animal.
   6. also White A member of a racial group of people having light skin coloration, especially one of European origin. See Usage Note at black.
   7. Products of a white color, such as flour, salt, and sugar. Often used in the plural.
4. Games
   1. The white or light-colored pieces, as in chess.
   2. The player using these pieces.
5. 1. The outermost ring of an archery target.
   2. A hit in this ring.
6. whites Pathology Leukorrhea.
7. A politically ultraconservative or reactionary person.

ADJECTIVE:
whit·er, whit·est

1. Being of the color white; devoid of hue, as new snow.
2. Approaching the color white, as:
   1. Weakly colored; almost colorless; pale: white wine.
   2. Pale gray; silvery and lustrous: white hair.
   3. Bloodless; blanched.
3. Light or whitish in color or having light or whitish parts. Used with animal and plant names.
4. also White Of or belonging to a racial group having light skin coloration, especially one of European origin: voting patterns within the white population.
5. Not written or printed on; blank.
6. Unsullied; pure.
7. Habited in white: white nuns.
8. Accompanied by or mantled with snow: a white Christmas.
9. 1. Incandescent: white flames.
   2. Intensely heated; impassioned: white with fury.
10. Ultraconservative or reactionary.
11. With milk added. Used of tea or coffee.

TRANSITIVE VERB:
whit·ed, whit·ing, whites

1. Printing To create or leave blank spaces in (printed or illustrated matter). Often used with out.
2. Archaic
   1. To whiten; whitewash.
   2. To blanch.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English, from Old English hwt; see kweit- in Indo-European roots

OTHER FORMS:
whiteness(Noun)