English Reference
noun

whites

n.
US /ˈhwaɪts/ UK /wˈaɪts/ whites

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate Sport

    a set of white clothes, often worn as a uniform for sports like cricket or in the military.

    a set of white garments, typically serving as a formal or functional uniform in specific professional or athletic contexts.

    Simple

    The cricket players looked very professional in their clean white clothes.

    In context

    The naval officers were required to dress in their summer whites for the arrival of the visiting dignitaries.

    Usage

    Usually used in the plural form when referring to a complete outfit.

  2. 02 B1 Intermediate Cooking

    clothes or sheets that are white and need to be washed together.

    white laundry items, such as linens and garments, grouped together for washing to prevent colour bleeding.

    Simple

    Don't forget to separate the whites from the dark clothes before starting the wash.

    In context

    She preferred to wash her whites at a higher temperature to ensure the bedsheets remained crisp and bright.

  3. 03 B1 Intermediate

    the white parts of your eyes or the clear part of an egg that turns white when cooked.

    the white part of the eyeball (sclera) or the clear, protein-rich liquid surrounding the yolk of an egg (albumen).

    Simple

    The recipe says to separate the egg whites from the yolks.

    In context

    The doctor noticed that the whites of his eyes had a slightly yellowish tint, suggesting a possible liver issue.

    albumensclera
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated