wash (wɒʃ
)
Definitions
verb
- to apply water or other liquid, usually with soap, to (oneself, clothes, etc) in order to cleanse
- (tr; often foll by away, from, off, etc) to remove by the application of water or other liquid and usually soap ⇒
she washed the dirt from her clothes
- (intr) to be capable of being washed without damage or loss of colour
- (of an animal such as a cat) to cleanse (itself or another animal) by licking
- (tr) to cleanse from pollution or defilement
- (tr) to make wet or moist
- away, etc to move or be moved by water ⇒
the flood washed away the bridge
- (esp of waves) to flow or sweep against or over (a surface or object), often with a lapping sound
- to form by erosion or be eroded ⇒
the stream washed a ravine in the hill
- (tr) to apply a thin coating of paint, metal, etc, to
- (tr) to separate (ore, precious stones, etc) from (gravel, earth, or sand) by immersion in water
- (intr; usually used with a negative) informal mainly British to admit of testing or proof ⇒
your excuses won't wash with me this time
- See wash one's hands
noun
- the act or process of washing; ablution
- a quantity of articles washed together
- a preparation or thin liquid used as a coating or in washing ⇒
a thin wash of paint
a hair wash
- medicine
- any medicinal or soothing lotion for application to a part of the body
- ((in combination) ⇒
an eyewash
- the flow of water, esp waves, against a surface, or the sound made by such a flow
- the technique of making wash drawings
- See wash drawing
- the erosion of soil by the action of flowing water
- a mass of alluvial material transported and deposited by flowing water
- land that is habitually washed by tidal or river waters
- the disturbance in the air or water produced at the rear of an aircraft, boat, or other moving object
- gravel, earth, etc, from which valuable minerals may be washed
- waste liquid matter or liquid refuse, esp as fed to pigs; swill
- an alcoholic liquid resembling strong beer, resulting from the fermentation of wort in the production of whisky
- See come out in the wash
Word Origin
Old English wæscan, waxan; related to Old High German wascan; see water
Synonyms
View thesaurus entry
=
lap,
break,
dash,
roll,
flow,
surge,
splash,
slap,
ripple,
swish,
splosh,
plash,
