presoak

American  

[pree-sohk, pree-sohk] / priˈsoʊk, ˈpriˌsoʊk /

verb (used with object)

1. to soak (laundry) in a liquid containing agents that loosen dirt, remove stains, etc., before washing.

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noun

1. a preparation in which laundry is presoaked.

2. an act or instance of presoaking.

Usage

What does presoak mean? To presoak is to soak something in a liquid containing some type of cleaning agent in order to loosen dirt or remove stains, as in Jamal presoaked the pans to loosen all the baked-on food bits. To presoak something is to soak it before doing something else to it, most often washing it. It can be used in a variety of situations but is most commonly used in reference to washing laundry and dishes.When you presoak something before cleaning it, you are generally soaking it in a cleaning agent and water mixture, such as detergent or bleach. Presoaking allows the cleaning agent to be in contact with the item you’re cleaning longer, helping to remove dirt and oils.A presoak is the act of presoaking something.Example: I always presoak my dishes before loading them into the washer, but my spouse thinks it’s a waste of time.

Etymology

Origin of presoak

First recorded in 1915–20; pre- + soak

Example Sentences

The seed packets instruct you to scarify the seeds and presoak them before planting.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 23, 2023

If the skewers are wooden, remember to presoak them in warm water for about 45 minutes before cooking.

From Salon • May 31, 2021

Sure, they can take longer to cook than other beans, especially if you don’t take the time to presoak them.

From Washington Post • Mar. 9, 2015

Lever Brothers, the U.S. arm of Unilever, is test-marketing its enzyme presoak, called Amaze.

From Time Magazine Archive

I looked up to see him reading the ingredients on my mother’s box of presoak powder.

From "Liar, Liar" by Gary Paulsen