washing

American  

[wosh-ing, waw-shing] / ˈwɒʃ ɪŋ, ˈwɔ ʃɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that washes; ablution.

2. clothes, linens, etc., washed or to be washed, especially those washed at one time; wash.

3. Often washings any liquid that has been used to wash something.

4. matter removed or carried off in washing something or by the force of water.

   The washings from numerous spring floods had clogged the mouth of the river.

5. Mining.

   1. material, as gold dust, obtained by washing earth, gravel, etc.

   2. the deposits so washed.

6. Metalworking. wash.

7. the act of making a wash sale.

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washing British  

/ ˈwɒʃɪŋ /

noun

1. articles that have been or are to be washed together on a single occasion

2. liquid in which an article has been washed

3. something, such as gold dust or metal ore, that has been obtained by washing

4. a thin coat of something applied in liquid form

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Etymology

Origin of washing

First recorded in 1175–1225, washing is from the Middle English word wasschunge. See wash, -ing ¹

Example Sentences

The term has become caught up in the “PowerPoint washing” of companies that want to get credit for AI without doing anything meaningful, he said.

From The Wall Street Journal

It requires predicting trends, washing garments based on specific needs, repairing some of them and, unlike most e-commerce companies, covering the costs to ship items both to customers and then back to warehouses.

From The Wall Street Journal

There was one showing the hills where Duane’s cave was, with a morning light washing them in an all too familiar golden hue.

From Literature

The researchers conjectured that because washers and dryers are typically sold as pairs, retailers may have simply spread the washing machine cost increase between the two products to keep their prices similar.

From Los Angeles Times

The house was unlocked, the ironing board was out, the hoover plugged in, washing was hanging on the line outside, the medication she needed for Crohn's disease had been left behind.

From BBC

Related Words

• bath
• bathing
• laundry
• soaking