I. noun
( -s )
Etymology: from gerund of whiten
1. : the act or process of making or becoming white
2. : something that is used to make white : whiting
3. : the operation of shaving leather on the flesh side to even its thickness
II. adjective
Etymology: from present participle of whiten
1. : serving to whiten or active in whitening
a whitening compound
the whitening action of a bleach
2. : tending to whiten : gradually becoming white
these whitening bones