hʌʃ ˈkwaɪ.ə.tən ʃʌt ˈʌp ʃʌt ˈʌp ˈsaɪ.ləns ˈwaɪtwɒʃ cause to be quiet or not talk Please silence the children in the church! cover up a misdemeanor, fault, or error Let's not whitewash the crimes of Stalin She tried to gloss over her mistakes