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White Cliffs of Dover, The
**whirl·y·bird** /'wɜːrliˌbɜːrd; US 'wɜːrli,bɜːrd/ *n slang* for HELICOPTER
**whirr** also **whir** especially AmE /wɜːr; / *v -rr-* [I] to make a regular sound like something turning and beating against the air: *the whirring sound of the helicopter blades* **—whirr, whir** *n:* *the whirr of the sewing machine***whisk¹** /wɪsk/ *n* **1** [C usually sing.] a quick light sweeping movement: *The cow brushed away the flies with a whisk of its tail.* **2** a small brush consisting of a bunch of feathers, hair etc, tied to a handle, especially a FLYWHISK **3** a small hand-held apparatus for beating eggs, whipping cream etc**whisk²** *v* [T] **1** to move or remove with a quick sweeping movement: *The horse whisked its tail./whisked away the flies with its tail.* **2** [+adv/prep] to move or remove quickly or by taking suddenly: *She whisked the cups away. | The President was whisked off to the airport in his limousine.* **3** to beat (especially eggs), especially with a WHISK**Whis·kas** /'wɪskəz/ *trademark* a type of canned cat food
**whisk broom** *n AmE* a small hand-held brush usually made from BROOM used for brushing clothes or sweeping dust into a DUSTPAN
**whis·ker** /'wɪskər/ *n* **1** any of the long stiff hairs that grow near the mouth of a cat, rat etc $\rightarrow$ see also WHISKERS **2 by a whisker** *infml, especially BrE* by a very small amount; only just: *He won the race by a whisker.***whis·kered** /'wɪskərd/ *adj* having whiskers
**whis·kers** /'wɪskəz/ *n* [P] hair growing on the sides of a man's face or on his chin **—kery** *adj***whis·key** /'wɪski/ *n* [U] whisky made in Ireland or the US
**whis·ky** /'wɪski; *BrE* \| **whiskey** *AmE*— *n* **1** [U] a SPIRIT (=strong alcoholic drink) made from malted (MALT) grain, such as BARLEY produced especially in Scotland **2** [C] a glass of whisky**whis·per¹** /'wɪspər/ *v* **1** [I;T] to speak or say very quietly, so that only a person close by can hear: *The children were whispering in the corner. | She whispered a warning to me and then disappeared. | ‘Listen!’ she whispered.* **2** [I] (of the wind, leaves etc) to make a soft sound: *The wind was whispering in the roof.* **3** [T often pass.] to suggest (something) or pass (information) secretly: [+that] *It’s whispered that he may resign.* **—er** *n***whisper²** *n* **1** speech produced by whispering: *She said it in a whisper so I couldn't hear.* **2** [C usually sing.] a soft windy sound: *the whisper of the wind in the roof* **3** *infml* a piece of information passed secretly from one person to another; RUMOUR: [+(that)] *I've heard a whisper that he's going to resign.* $\rightarrow$ see also STAGE WHISPER**whispering cam,paign** *n* an attack made against someone's position or good name by passing on unfavourable information about him/her (which may or may not be true) from one person to another $\rightarrow$ compare SMEAR CAMPAIGN**whist** /wɪst/ *n* [U] a card game for four players in two pairs, in which each pair tries to win the largest number of TRICKS $\rightarrow$ compare BRIDGE**whist drive** *n* a meeting to play whist between several pairs of partners who change opponents
**whis·tle¹** /'wɪsəl/ *n* **1** a simple (musical) instrument for making a high sound by forcing air or steam through it **2** a high sound made by forcing air or steam through a whistle, through the lips, or through a bird's beak: *He gave a loud whistle of surprise.* $\rightarrow$ see also WOLF WHISTLE, **blow the whistle on** (BLOW), **wet one's whistle** (WET)[IMAGE: a whistle]
**whistle²** *v* **1** [I] to make a high clear sound **a)** by forcing air through a narrow hole formed by the lips, to make music or as a signal to draw attention: *She whistled to her dog and it came running.* **b)** by forcing air or steam through a WHISTLE: *The referee whistled and the game began. | The old steam train whistled as it approached the station.* **2** [T] to produce (music) by doing this: *He whistled ‘God save the Queen’.* **3** [+adv/prep] to move with a whistling sound: *The wind whistled in the chimney. | A bullet whistled past my head.* **4 whistle for it** *infml* to ask for something, especially payment, with no chance of success: *‘He wants his £5 back.’ ‘He'll have to whistle for it; I've got no money left.’* **5 whistle in the dark** to put on a show of courage when one is afraid**whis·tle·blow·er** /'wɪsəlˌbloʊər/ *n* a person who makes known (secret) information about illegal, immoral, or wrongful practices in an organization, often at some risk to themselves: *whistleblowers in the nuclear energy industry | The scandal was brought to light by a whistleblower at the Pentagon.* $\rightarrow$ see also **blow the whistle on** (BLOW) **—whistleblowing** *n* [U]**Whis·tler, James Mc·Neill** /'wɪslər; dʒeɪmz mək'ni:l/ (1834-1903) a US artist most famous for the picture known as Whistler’s Mother
**'whistle-stop** *n AmE* **1** (a town that is) a REQUEST STOP for a train **2** an appearance, especially by a politician, on a whistle-stop tour: *The vice president made a whistle-stop in Topeka before continuing his tour of Kansas and Nebraska.*
**'whistle-stop 'tour** *n* a touring visit, especially by a politician, with many short stops, especially in small places**whit** /wɪt/ *n* [S usually in negatives] *fml or old use* (by) a small amount: *He cares not a whit for public opinion.***Whit** *n* [C;U] especially *BrE* WHITSUN: *the Whit weekend*
**Whit·ak·er’s Al·ma·nack** /ˌwɪtəkəz 'ɔːlmənæk\|-kərz 'ɔːl-, 'æl-/ trademark a book produced every year in the UK since 1868, which provides useful information about the UK and its government, and about other countries**white¹** /waɪt/ *adj* **1** of the colour of milk, salt, and snow: *white paint | white rice | white hair (=as of a very old person)* $\rightarrow$ see *Feature on page A7* **2** pale in colour: *Her face was white with anger/fear. | white wine* **3** [no comp.] **a)** (of a person) of a pale-skinned race **b)** [A] of or for white people: *a white neighbourhood* $\rightarrow$ compare BLACK **4** [no comp.] (of coffee) with milk or cream $\rightarrow$ opposite BLACK **5 white as a sheet** *infml* pale with fear or illness **6 whiter than white** *BrE* used about someone who is always honest and always does what is morally right, so that they sometimes seem too good to be believed: *Journalists revealing the abuse of political power are the cinema’s new whiter than white heroes. | They’re so boring, these New Labour MPs, always trying to be whiter than white.* **—ness** *n* [U]**white²** *n* **1** [U] the colour which is white: *a bride dressed in white (=wearing white clothes)* **2** [C] a person of a pale-skinned race: *There were both blacks and whites at the meeting.* **3** [C(of)] the white part of the eye **4** [C;U (of)] the part of an egg surrounding the YOLK (=yellow part) which is colourless, but white after cooking: *Beat three egg whites until stiff.* $\rightarrow$ see also WHITES, BLACK AND WHITE**White, Barry** (1944-2003) an American singer of SOUL music, especially slow romantic songs. He was known for his deep voice and his large size. His songs include *Never Gonna Give Ya Up* and *You’re the First, the Last, my Everything.***White, Reg·gie** /'redʒi/ (1961-) a former US football player known especially for playing DEFENSIVE END for the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles teams. He was famous for achieving the most SACKS in the history of the NFL.**'white 'ant** *n* a TERMITE
**white·bait** /'waɪtbeɪt/ *n* [U] very small young fish of several types, eaten as food
**white 'blood cell** also **leucocyte** *med*, **white 'corpus·cle** *n* any of the cells in the blood which fight against infection $\rightarrow$ compare RED BLOOD CELL**white·board** /'waɪtboːrd\|-boːrd/ *n* a white smooth surface used especially in classrooms for writing and drawing on with special pens $\rightarrow$ compare BLACKBOARD
**white 'bread** *n* [U] bread made from white flour**white·cap** /'waɪtkæp/ *n* a WHITE HORSE
**white 'Christmas** *n* a Christmas Day when there is snow on the ground, thought by many people to be attractive and TRADITIONAL. There is a well-known popular song called *White Christmas*, sung by Bing Crosby.**White ,Cliffs of 'Dover, The** **1** the white cliffs made of CHALK, which are the first part of England that you see when