whiten

Everyday

1. To whiten something is to make it whiter or paler. tree →
2. To whiten is to become white or pale, for example from fear or cold. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life, toothpaste and washing powders claim to whiten teeth or clothes; bleach whitens. In stories, someone's face or knuckles whiten when they are afraid or gripping hard. Phrases: «whiten teeth», «whitened with fear», «knuckles whitened».

Examples

• This toothpaste is meant to whiten teeth. tree →
• Her face whitened when she heard the noise. tree →
• His knuckles whitened as he held the rope. tree →
• Frost whitened the grass. tree →
• Bleach can whiten towels but is dangerous to touch. tree →
• The sky whitened before the snow came. tree →
• Then every one saw the whitened skull, and they knew the dead man in the bed was a murderer. tree →

Note

Regular verb: whitened, whitening (no doubling of n before -ed). Adjective «white» + «-en». Similar verbs: «brighten», «darken», «lighten».