whitewash Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun a defeat in which the losing person or team fails to score
noun wash consisting of lime and size in water; used for whitening walls and other surfaces
noun a specious or deceptive clearing that attempts to gloss over failings and defects
verb cover up a misdemeanor, fault, or error
hush up; sleek over; gloss over.
- Let's not whitewash the crimes of Stalin
- She tried to gloss over her mistakes
verb cover with whitewash
- whitewash walls
verb exonerate by means of a perfunctory investigation or through biased presentation of data

Any wash or liquid composition for whitening something, as a wash for making the skin fair. Addison.
A composition of line and water, or of whiting size, and water, or the like, used for whitening walls, ceilings, etc.; milk of lime.

imperfect & past participle Whitewashed ; present participle & verbal noun Whitewashing

To apply a white liquid composition to; to whiten with whitewash.
To make white; to give a fair external appearance to; to clear from imputations or disgrace; hence, to clear (a bankrupt) from obligation to pay debts.