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white out

B2 neutral separable both
In simple words

To cover something with white so you can't see it, or when everything looks completely white outside.

Literal meaning: To render something entirely white, removing all colour and visibility.

Meanings

1 B1 neutral

To cover a written mistake with white correction fluid so it cannot be seen.

"She whited out the spelling error and typed the correct word over it."

Grammar: separable
2 B2 neutral

When visibility becomes zero due to heavy snow, fog, or blinding light.

"The mountain path whited out completely during the blizzard, making navigation impossible."

Grammar: inseparable
3 B2 neutral

To render areas of a document or image blank by filling them white, typically to redact or censor information.

"Large sections of the declassified report had been whited out before it was released to the public."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

Has two main distinct uses: the physical act of applying correction fluid ('Wite-Out' is a brand name in the US) and describing meteorological whiteout conditions. As a noun, 'whiteout' refers to a blizzard that reduces visibility to near zero.

Commonly used with

mistake text error conditions blizzard correction fluid

Forms

Base
white out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
whites out
he/she/it
Past simple
whited out
yesterday
Past participle
whited out
have + pp
-ing form
whiting out
continuous

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Synonyms

correct cover up obliterate erase blot out

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