Standard Lemma guide

whitening

noun · verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈwaɪtn̩ɪŋ/
  • /ˈwaɪtnɪŋ/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • /ˈhwaɪtn̩ɪŋ/ without the wine–whine merger
  • /ˈhwaɪtnɪŋ/ without the wine–whine merger
  • rhymes with -aɪtnɪŋ
  • CMU ARPABET: W AY1 T IH0 N IH0 NG Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
  • CMU ARPABET 2: W AY1 T N IH0 NG Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
  • CMU ARPABET 3: HH W AY1 T IH0 N IH0 NG Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
  • CMU ARPABET 4: HH W AY1 T N IH0 NG Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A substance, such as a bleach, used to make something white or whiter.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A substance, such as a bleach, used to make something white or whiter.

Whiting, a kind of fine white chalk.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

The process of making something white or whiter.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

present participle and gerund of whiten

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: form-of, gerund, participle, present

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

changing to a lighter color

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: lightening

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: change of color

Narrower terms: bleach

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

13 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Azerbaijani: ağardıcı — the process of making something white or whiter
  • Bulgarian: избелване (izbelvane) — the process of making something white or whiter
  • French: blanchissement — the process of making something white or whiter
  • French: blanchiment — the process of making something white or whiter
  • Galician: branqueamento — the process of making something white or whiter
  • Italian: scialbatura — the process of making something white or whiter
  • Portuguese: branqueamento — the process of making something white or whiter
  • Spanish: blanqueamiento — the process of making something white or whiter
  • Spanish: blanqueo — the process of making something white or whiter
  • Turkish: ağartma — the process of making something white or whiter
  • Turkish: beyazlatma — the process of making something white or whiter
  • Welsh: gwyneiddiad — the process of making something white or whiter
  • Welsh: gwynhad — the process of making something white or whiter