whitewash

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

(figurative) 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.).

To paint bright white with whitewash.

(literary, figurative) To cover or coat (something) with a white substance, as if with whitewash; also, to light up (something) with white light.

(informal, figurative) 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.

(figurative) 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.

(figurative) To cast a white actor in a role for a person of colour in (a film, television programme, etc.).

(figurative) To make over (someone of colour) so that they appear more white, for example, by applying lightening makeup to their skin or digitally manipulating an image of them.

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

(figurative) To have debts cleared through a declaration of bankruptcy by a court.

(no longer used) Of bricks: to become encrusted with a white layer of soluble salts due to efflorescence.

(no longer used, historical) To make (the face, etc.) look lighter with makeup or a similar preparation.

(no longer used) Synonym of bleach (“to treat (fabric) with a substance which lightens or whitens”).

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.

(figurative) 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.

(figurative) 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.

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

(historical) A preparation for making the skin look lighter.

The most basic type of thickening agent, consisting of flour blended with water to make a paste.

(no longer used) 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.

(slang, no longer used) White wine, especially Madeira or sherry, drunk after dinner or after taking claret and port; (countable) a glass of such wine.