wash
verb (used with object)
to apply water or some other liquid to (something or someone) for the purpose of cleansing; cleanse by dipping, rubbing, or scrubbing in water or some other liquid.
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wash
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Wash.
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-wash
-washa combining form extracted from whitewash and added to a word that names a trend, a fad, or something otherwise deemed desirable, with the meaning “to give the appearance of,” indicating that the affiliation or association with the named thing is not genuine, as in a rebranding effort that attempts to cover up any negative facts or publicity: What real benefit is there for breast cancer research in pinkwashing products every October?
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Wash
Washnouna shallow inlet of the North Sea on the E coast of England, between Lincolnshire and Norfolk
wash
1 American
[wosh, wawsh]
/ wɒʃ, wɔʃ /
verb (used with object)
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washes,
present (3rd person singular)
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washed,
past participle, past
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washing
present participle
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to apply water or some other liquid to (something or someone) for the purpose of cleansing; cleanse by dipping, rubbing, or scrubbing in water or some other liquid.
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to remove (dirt, stains, paint, or any matter) by or as by the action of water (usually followed by out, off, etc.).
to wash grime out of clothing.
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to free from spiritual defilement or from sin, guilt, etc..
to be washed whiter than the snow.
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to bathe, wet, or moisten with water or other liquid.
a meadow newly washed with morning dew.
- Synonyms:
- bedew
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to flow through, over, or against.
a shore or cliff washed by waves.
- Synonyms:
- bathe
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to carry, bring, remove, or deposit (something) by means of water or any liquid, or as the water or liquid does (often followed by up, down, oralong ).
The storm washed the boat up on the shore.
A sailor was washed overboard.
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to wear or diminish, as water does by flowing over or against a surface (often followed by out oraway ).
The rain had washed away the lettering on the stone.
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(of water) to form by flowing over and eroding a surface.
The flood had washed a new channel through the bottom lands.
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Mining.
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to subject (earth or ore) to the action or force of water in order to separate valuable material.
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to separate (valuable material) in this way.
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to purify (a gas or gaseous mixture) by passage through or over a liquid.
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to cover with a watery or thin coat of color.
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to overlay with a thin coat or deposit of metal.
to wash brass with gold.
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Slang. launder.
verb (used without object)
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washes,
present (3rd person singular)
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washed,
past participle, past
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washing
present participle
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to wash oneself.
After using the insecticide spray they washed completely.
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to wash clothes.
Monday is the day we wash.
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to cleanse anything with or in water or other liquid.
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to undergo washing without injury, especially shrinking or fading.
fabrics guaranteed to wash.
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Informal. to be found true, valid, or real when tested or closely scrutinized; stand being put to the proof.
His honesty won't wash.
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to be carried or driven by water (often followed by along orashore ).
The boat had washed ashore in the night.
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to flow or beat with a lapping sound, as waves on a shore.
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to move along in or as in waves, or with a rushing movement, as water.
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to be eroded, as by a stream or by rainfall.
a hillside that washes frequently.
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to be removed by the action of water (often followed byaway ).
Much of the topsoil washes away each spring.
noun
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washes
plural
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the act or process of washing with water or other liquid.
to give the car a wash.
- Synonyms:
- ablution
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a quantity of clothes, linens, etc., washed, or to be washed, at one time.
a heavy wash.
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a liquid with which something is washed, wetted, colored, overspread, etc..
She gave the room a wash of pale blue.
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the flow, sweep, dash, or breaking of water.
The wash of the waves had drenched us.
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the sound made by this.
listening to the wash of the Atlantic.
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water moving along in waves or with a rushing movement.
the wash of the incoming tide.
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the rough or broken water left behind a moving ship, boat, etc.; wake.
The little boats tossed about in the wash from the liner's propellers.
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Aeronautics. the disturbance in the air left behind by a moving airplane or any of its parts.
wing wash.
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any of various liquids for grooming or cosmetic purposes.
a hair wash.
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a lotion or other liquid having medicinal properties, as an antiseptic solution or the like (often used in combination).
to apply wash to a skinned knee;
mouthwash;
eyewash.
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Mining. minerals from which valuable material can be extracted by washing.
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the wearing away of the shore by breaking waves.
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a tract of land washed by the action of the sea or a river.
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a marsh, fen, or bog.
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a small stream or shallow pool.
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a shallow arm of the sea or a shallow part of a river.
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The Wash, a shallow bay of the North Sea, on the eastern coast of England. 20 miles (32 km) long; 15 miles (24 km) wide.
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a depression or channel formed by flowing water.
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Geology. alluvial matter transferred and deposited by flowing water.
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Also called dry wash. Western U.S. the dry bed of an intermittent stream.
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a broad, thin layer of color applied by a continuous movement of the brush, as in water-color painting.
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Also called watershed, weathering. Architecture.
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an upper surface so inclined as to shed rainwater from a building.
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any member of a building having such a surface.
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Metalworking. Also a thin coat of metal applied in liquid form.
a gold wash.
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waste liquid matter, refuse, food, etc., from the kitchen, as for hogs; swill (often used in combination).
hogwash.
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washy or weak liquor or liquid food.
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the fermented wort from which the spirit is extracted in distilling.
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Informal. an action that yields neither gain nor loss.
The company's financial position is a wash compared with last year.
adjective
verb phrase
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wash up
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to wash one's face and hands.
Aren't you going to wash up? Dinner is almost ready.
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to wash (dishes, flatware, pots, etc.).
I'll wash up the dishes, don't bother.
We had someone in to wash up after the party.
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to end, especially ignominiously (usually in the passive).
After that performance, he's all washed up as a singer.
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wash out
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to be removed by washing.
The stain wouldn't wash out.
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to damage or demolish by the action of water.
The embankment was washed out by the storm.
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Informal. to fail to qualify or continue; be eliminated.
to wash out of graduate school.
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to become dim, indistinct, or blurred.
The face of the watch washes out in sunlight.
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wash down
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to clean completely by washing.
to wash down a car.
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to facilitate the swallowing of (food or medicine) by drinking water or other liquid.
to wash down a meal with a glass of wine.
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idioms
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wash one's hands of. hand.
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come out in the wash,
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to have a good or satisfactory result; turn out eventually.
The situation may look hopeless now, but it will all come out in the wash.
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to be revealed; become known.
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Wash.
2
American
abbreviation
-wash
3
American
wash
1
British
/ wɒʃ /
verb
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to apply water or other liquid, usually with soap, to (oneself, clothes, etc) in order to cleanse
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(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
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(intr) to be capable of being washed without damage or loss of colour
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(of an animal such as a cat) to cleanse (itself or another animal) by licking
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(tr) to cleanse from pollution or defilement
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(tr) to make wet or moist
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to move or be moved by water
the flood washed away the bridge
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(esp of waves) to flow or sweep against or over (a surface or object), often with a lapping sound
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to form by erosion or be eroded
the stream washed a ravine in the hill
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(tr) to apply a thin coating of paint, metal, etc, to
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(tr) to separate (ore, precious stones, etc) from (gravel, earth, or sand) by immersion in water
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informal (intr; usually used with a negative) to admit of testing or proof
your excuses won't wash with me this time
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euphemistic to go to the lavatory
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(usually foll by of) to refuse to have anything more to do (with)
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noun
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the act or process of washing; ablution
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a quantity of articles washed together
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a preparation or thin liquid used as a coating or in washing
a thin wash of paint
a hair wash
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med
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any medicinal or soothing lotion for application to a part of the body
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( in combination )
an eyewash
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the flow of water, esp waves, against a surface, or the sound made by such a flow
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the technique of making wash drawings
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See wash drawing
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the erosion of soil by the action of flowing water
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a mass of alluvial material transported and deposited by flowing water
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land that is habitually washed by tidal or river waters
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the disturbance in the air or water produced at the rear of an aircraft, boat, or other moving object
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gravel, earth, etc, from which valuable minerals may be washed
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waste liquid matter or liquid refuse, esp as fed to pigs; swill
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an alcoholic liquid resembling strong beer, resulting from the fermentation of wort in the production of whisky
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informal to become known or apparent in the course of time
Wash
2
British
/ wɒʃ /
noun
Wash.
3
British
abbreviation
wash
More Idioms
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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washsimple
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washessimple
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have washedperfect
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has washedperfect
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am washingprogressive
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are washingprogressive
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is washingprogressive
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have been washingperfect progressive
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has been washingperfect progressive
Past
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washedsimple
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had washedperfect
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was washingprogressive
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were washingprogressive
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had been washingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of wash
First recorded before 900; Middle English verb washen, Old English wascan (cognate with Dutch wasschen, German waschen, Old Norse vaska ), from Proto-Germanic watskan, equivalent to wat- (root of water ) + -sk- verb suffix + -an infinitive suffix
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The company is creating a pet ecosystem in which pet owners can do everything from buy dog food and cat toys to wash their pets and consult a veterinarian.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026
For that reason, treat it as a wash.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 7, 2026
Officials said fire investigators found a “dry receptive fuel bed” below the transmission tower in a wash within Eaton Canyon, which sits just east of Altadena and north of Pasadena.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026
This makes the sea lions sick, and eventually they could wash up dead.
From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026
Clare felt a wash of relief at the sight of another soul, and a great wave of happiness that it was this one.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
Boeing opened a new production line in Everett, Wash., to help boost production of its 737 MAX jets.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
Susan Shannon, a resident of Orcas Island, Wash., took out student loans in her 50s when she decided to make a career change.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026
Ohashi thanks Pacific Reign Gymnastics, a U.S. national training center in Woodinville, Wash., “for taking a chance on me.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 24, 2026
That fire broke out at a 525,000-square-foot cold storage facility in Finley, Wash., in April of 2024 and took eight weeks to extinguish.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 23, 2026
She did not look at Wash. Would not look at him.
From "Out of Darkness" by Ashley Hope Pérez
Lula, who was previously president from 2003-2010, spent 580 days in jail beginning in April 2018 after being convicted in the sprawling Operation Car Wash anti-corruption probe.
From Barron's ● Aug. 5, 2026
Barnaby Dorfman, 58, chief technology officer in residence at a private-equity firm in Bainbridge Island, Wash.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026
Wash and rinse the rice before soaking it in a fresh bowl of water for 20 to 25 minutes.
From Salon ● Jun. 7, 2026
Douglas is also one of 140 members of the Social Singing Choir in Margate, Kent, which has used the recordings in their song Wash Over Me, set for release in June.
From BBC ● Apr. 22, 2026
Wash held up his hands and took a step back.
From "Out of Darkness" by Ashley Hope Pérez
A radical acceptance of your fate, floating in the void, washes over you.
From Salon ● Jun. 15, 2026
Immigration sweeps hit some car washes repeatedly, as many as three or four times, during what is typically the industry’s peak season.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 14, 2026
The 1963 painting Domestic Scene, Los Angeles shows one man in a shower while another man washes his back.
From BBC ● Jun. 13, 2026
Built-in sinks allow shoppers to test face washes that come in creamy, gooey and foaming textures.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 28, 2026
As I lather my hair, leftover sand washes off my feet and swirls down the drain.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
When the containers were damaged these tiny pieces of plastic spilled into the water and eventually washed up on beaches.
From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026
“We started looking around and we found them throughout: where we washed our hands and the showers,” he said, adding that the critters looked like gusanitos — little worms.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 1, 2026
The court heard bodies were not washed and many were left in a soiled state.
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026
The carcasses of malnourished sea lions and whales washed up on beaches.
From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026
Next, Torak washed the long back sinews he’d saved from the butchering, pounded them flat, then teased out the narrow fibers for thread: drying them and rubbing them in fat to make them supple.
From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver
If bedbugs are found, it recommends washing everything at a high temperature before putting items in a plastic bag and deep freezing for at least three days.
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026
Ovens, hobs, tumble dryers, washing machines and dishwashers can all make indoor spaces warmer.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 29, 2026
Adult social care provides support to help people live more independently, ranging from personal care such as washing to household tasks.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
They have been documented engaging in "wave washing" -- cooperating to create choppy waters that knock seals off sheets of ice so they can be more easily captured and eaten.
From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026
I was washing the lunch dishes in the kitchen, but I ran through the dining room and down the steps before the rest of the family could stir.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
