Pronunciation: [wˈa͡ɪtən] (IPA) 
The word "whiten" is spelled with the letters W-H-I-T-E-N. In IPA phonetic transcription, it is pronounced as /ˈwaɪtən/. The first sound is a long "I" sound, followed by a "t" sound and then a short "ə" sound. The final sound is a soft "n" sound, which is barely pronounced. "Whiten" is a verb that means to make something white, typically by removing dirt or stains. It is commonly used in the context of laundry or teeth whitening.
Whiten is a verb that denotes the action of making something or someone whiter or lighter in color. This term is often used when referring to the process of lightening the hue or tone of an object or surface. It primarily describes the action of removing or concealing stains, discoloration, or any dark shades, resulting in a brighter appearance.
In a literal sense, whiten can refer to the act of applying a substance like bleach or a light-colored paint to an object or surface, such as whitening teeth, whitening clothes, or whitening walls. This process typically involves chemically altering the pigmentation, resulting in a loss of color depth and a lighter, often white, shade.
Figuratively, whiten can also refer to the state or process of becoming morally or personally cleansed or pure. It implies transforming or purifying something abstract, such as a character, an idea, or an intention. For instance, one might say that love has the power to whiten the darkest hearts, meaning that it can cleanse or purify one's soul, eliminating negativity or malice.
Overall, "whiten" describes the act of making something whiter in color, often involving the application of a substance or the removal of dark shades.
To make white; to blanch; to turn or become white.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "whiten" derives from the Old English verb "hwītian", which means "to become white" or "to bleach". It is derived from the Proto-Germanic root word "hwītaz", meaning "white". This root word has cognates in other Germanic languages, such as Old High German "hwīz" and Old Norse "hvítr". Ultimately, the Proto-Germanic "hwītaz" can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root word "ḱweytós", meaning "white" or "bright". The word "whiten" has remained relatively unchanged throughout Old English, Middle English, and Modern English.
