dry cleaning
Americannoun
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the cleaning of garments, fabrics, draperies, etc., with any of various chemicals rather than water.
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garments for cleaning in this way.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of dry cleaning
First recorded in 1810–20
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.
Most Silicon Valley companies at the time lavished their top engineering talent with free lunches, on-site dry cleaning, nap pods and other luxury amenities.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 4, 2026
The cost of haircuts, dry cleaning and internet services also rose faster than overall inflation.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026
Across the street, Hajji watched from his empty dry cleaning shop as the road cleared.
From Barron's • Mar. 7, 2026
Prices for personal services, such as dry cleaning and haircuts, rose 1.6%.
From BBC • Feb. 13, 2026
“No, I picked up the dry cleaning and went to the post office.”
From "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green
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.
