wash

Wash means to clean with a liquid, purify or moisten.

(verb)

An example of wash is to use a damp cloth to wipe up a soiled table.

Wash is defined as the act of cleaning, purifying or moistening, or laundry that needs to be cleaned.

(noun)

  1. An example of a wash is a scrubbing of the car.
  2. An example of wash are dirty clothes in the hamper.

YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2013 by LoveToKnow Corp.

See wash in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb

  1. to clean by means of water or other liquid, as by dipping, tumbling, or scrubbing, often with soap, a detergent, etc.
  2. to make clean in a religious or moral sense; purify
  3. to make wet, or moisten; drench or flush with water or other liquid
  4. to cleanse (itself or another) by licking, as a cat does
  5. to flow over, past, or against: said of a sea, river, lake, waves, etc.
  6. to soak (out), flush (off), or carry (away) by or as by the use or action of water: to wash out dirt, a bridge washed away by the flood
    1. to make by flowing over and wearing away substance: a heavy rain that washed gullies in the bank
    2. to cut into or erode; wear (out or away) by flowing over: the flood washed out the road
  7. to act as a suitable cleaning agent for: soap that will wash silks
  8. to cover with a thin or watery coating of paint, esp. of water color
  9. to cover with a thin layer of metal
  10. Chem.
    1. to pass distilled water through (a precipitate in a filter)
    2. to pass (a gas) over or through a liquid in order to remove soluble matter
  11. Mining
    1. to pass water through or over (earth, gravel, etc.) in order to separate ore, metal, precious stones, etc.
    2. to separate (the ore, etc.) in this way

Origin: ME wasshen < OE wæscan, akin to Ger waschen: for prob. IE base see water

intransitive verb

  1. to wash oneself or one's hands, face, etc.: often with up
    1. to wash clothes
    2. to clean anything in, or by means of, water, etc.
  2. to undergo washing, esp. without fading or other damage
  3. to be removed by washing: usually with out or away: stains that will wash out
  4. to sweep or flow (over, against, along, up, etc.) in or as in waves or a current, stream, etc.
  5. to be cut, worn, or carried (out or away) by the action of water: the bridge had washed out
  6. to be eroded, as by the action of rain or a river
  7. Informal to withstand a test or examination: an alibi that won't wash

noun

    1. the act or an instance of washing
    2. ☆ a place where something is washed: carwash
  1. a quantity of clothes, etc. washed, or to be washed
  2. waste liquid; refuse liquid food, as from cooking; swill; hogwash
    1. the rush, sweep, or surge of water or waves
    2. the sound of this
    3. water rushing, sweeping, or surging in waves
    4. the surge or eddy of water caused by a propeller, oars, paddle wheel, etc.
    5. a disturbed eddy of air left behind a moving airplane, propeller, etc.
  3. wear or erosion caused by a flow or falling of water, or by the action of waves
  4. silt, mud, debris, etc. carried and dropped by running water, as of a stream
  5. soil or earth from which metals, ores, precious stones, etc. may be washed
    1. low ground which is flooded part of the time, and partly dry the rest, with water standing in pools
    2. a bog; marsh
    3. a shallow pool or pond, or a small stream
    4. a shallow arm of the sea or part of a river
  6. a channel made by running water
  7. ☆ in the western U.S., the dry bed of a stream which flows only occasionally, usually in a ravine or canyon
  8. a thin, watery layer of paint, esp. of watercolor, applied with even, sweeping movement of the brush
  9. a thin coating of metal applied to a surface in liquid form
  10. any of various liquids as for cosmetic, grooming, or medicinal use: mouthwash
  11. fermented liquor ready for distillation
  12. weak liquor or liquid food
  13. Informal a drink of water, beer, etc. taken with whiskey, rum, etc.; chaser
  14. Informal a situation in which contrasted elements, as the losses and gains in a business transaction, offset each other

adjective

that can be washed without damage; washable: a wash dress

shallow inlet of the North Sea, on the E coast of England: c. 20 mi (32 km) long

Washington

See wash in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb washed, wash·ing, wash·es
verb, transitive
  1. a. To cleanse, using water or other liquid, usually with soap, detergent, or bleach, by immersing, dipping, rubbing, or scrubbing: wash one's hands; wash windows.
    b. To soak, rinse out, and remove (dirt or stain) with or as if with water: wash grease out of overalls.
  2. To make moist or wet; drench: Tears washed the child's cheeks.
  3. To flow over, against, or past: waves that washed the sandy shores.
  4. To carry, erode, remove, or destroy by the action of moving water: Heavy rains washed the topsoil away.
  5. To rid of corruption or guilt; cleanse or purify: wash sins away.
  6. To cover or coat with a watery layer of paint or other coloring substance.
  7. Chemistry
    a. To purify (a gas) by passing through or over a liquid, as to remove soluble matter.
    b. To pass a solvent, such as distilled water, through (a precipitate).
  8. To separate constituents of (an ore) by immersion in or agitation with water.
  9. To cause to undergo a swirling action: washed the tea around in the cup.
verb, intransitive
  1. To cleanse something in or by means of water or other liquid.
  2. a. To undergo washing without fading or other damage: This fabric will wash.
    b. Informal To hold up under examination; be convincing: “That [proclamation], of course, will not wash” (John Hughes).
  3. To flow, sweep, or beat with a characteristic lapping sound: Waves washed over the pilings.
  4. To be carried away, removed, or drawn by the action of water.
noun
  1. The act or process of washing or cleansing.
  2. A quantity of articles washed or intended for washing: The wash is on the back porch.
  3. Waste liquid; swill.
  4. Fermented liquid from which liquor is distilled.
  5. A preparation or product used in washing or coating.
  6. A cosmetic or medicinal liquid, such as a mouthwash.
  7. a. A thin layer of watercolor or India ink spread on a drawing.
    b. A light tint or hue: “a wash of red sunset” (Thomas Pynchon).
  8. a. A rush or surge of water or waves.
    b. The sound of this rush or surge.
  9. a. Removal or erosion of soil by the action of moving water.
    b. A deposit of recently eroded debris.
  10. a. Low or marshy ground washed by tidal waters.
    b. A stretch of shallow water.
  11. Western U.S. The dry bed of a stream.
  12. Turbulence in air or water caused by the motion or action of an oar, propeller, jet, or airfoil.
  13. Informal An activity, action, or enterprise that yields neither marked gain nor marked loss: [The company] doesn't do badly. That is, it's a wash” (Harper's).
adjective
  1. Used for washing.
  2. Being such that washing is possible; washable.
Phrasal Verbs: wash down To clean by washing with water from top to bottom: wash down the walls. To follow the ingestion of (food, for example) with the ingestion of a liquid: washed the cake down with coffee. wash out
a. To remove or be removed by washing.
b. To cause to fade by laundering: color that had been washed out by bleach.
To carry or wear away or be carried or worn away by the action of moving water: The river rose and washed out the dam. The road has washed out five miles down the mountain. To deplete or become depleted of vitality: By evening, I was washed out from overwork. To eliminate or be eliminated as unsatisfactory: a football player who was washed out; an officer candidate who washed out after one month. To cause (an event) to be rained out. wash up To wash one's hands. Chiefly British To wash dishes after a meal. To burn out; exhaust: all washed up as a politician.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English washen

Origin: , from Old English wacsan, wǽscan; see wed-1 in Indo-European roots

.

An inlet of the North Sea off east-central England. The Wash has a dredged ship channel that leads to King's Lynn.

abbreviation
Washington

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