white

I UK [waɪt] / US / US [hwaɪt] adjective
Word forms "white":
adjective white comparative whiter superlative whitest
***

1) something that is white is the same colour as milk or snow. If something is similar to this colour, you can say that it is a whitish colour

a spotless white tablecloth

a black and white kitten

pure/snow white (= completely white):

the pure white sandy beaches

brilliant/dazzling/gleaming white:

the Spanish houses with their brilliant white walls

white with:

The hills were white with snow.

See:

black

2)

a) a white person belongs to a race of people with pale skin

The attacker was described as white, with short hair.

She has a number of white friends.

b) relating to white people, or consisting of white people

a white neighbourhood

predominantly/mostly white:

They live in a predominantly white suburb of Los Angeles.

••

See:

black

3) very pale in the face because you are frightened, angry, or ill

white with anger/shock/fear:

Luke's face was white with anger.

go/turn white:

She suddenly turned deathly white and fainted.

4) white wine is a yellowish colour. Wine that is a dark purplish colour is called red wine.

a) British white tea or coffee has milk in it

b) white flour is made from grain that has had the outer part removed. White bread is bread made with white flour.

5) informal completely fair or honest

whiter than white:

He is an old-fashioned, uncomplicated, whiter-than-white hero.

lily-white:

The sport's lily-white reputation has been stained by the affair.

•

(as) white as a sheet — extremely pale

See:

the white cliffs of Dover

Derived word:
whiteness
noun uncountable

the snowy whiteness of her hair

II UK [waɪt] / US / US [hwaɪt] noun
Word forms "white":
singular white plural whites
**

1) [countable/uncountable] the colour of milk or snow

The sign was written in white on a black background.

We painted the walls a creamy white.

wear white/be dressed in white (= wear white clothes):

The bride wore white.

2) [countable] someone who belongs to a race of people with pale skin

friendships between blacks and whites

3) [countable/uncountable] the clear part inside an egg that surrounds the yolk (= the yellow part)

4) [countable/uncountable] informal white wine

A glass of white, please.

5) [uncountable] in some board games, the person who uses the white pieces

White always moves first in chess.

6) whites

[plural] British special white clothes that people often wear for playing sports such as tennis or cricket

•

- the whites of someone's eyes