v. t. To make white; to bleach; to blanch; to whitewash; as, to whiten a wall; to whiten cloth. [ 1913 Webster ]

The broad stream of the Foyle then whitened by vast flocks of wild swans. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- See Blanch. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Whitened p. pr. & vb. n. Whitening. ] [ OE. whitenen; cf. Icel. hvītna. ] To grow white; to turn or become white or whiter; as, the hair whitens with age; the sea whitens with foam; the trees in spring whiten with blossoms. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who, or that which, whitens; a bleaching agent; a bleach; a bleacher; a blancher; a whitewasher. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A chemical used as an adjunct to laundering white cloth, which makes white cloth appear whiter. A bluing agent. [ PJC ]

n. [ AS. hwītness. ] 1. The quality or state of being white; white color, or freedom from darkness or obscurity on the surface. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Want of a sanguineous tinge; paleness; as from terror, grief, etc. “The whiteness in thy cheek.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Freedom from stain or blemish; purity; cleanness. [ 1913 Webster ]

He had kept
The whiteness of his soul, and thus men o'er him wept. Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Nakedness. [ Obs. ] Chapman. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Zool.) A flock of swans. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act or process of making or becoming white. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is used to render white; whiting. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Whitening stone, a sharpening and polishing stone used by cutlers; also, a finishing grindstone of fine texture. [ 1913 Webster ]