washing

[ wosh-ing, waw-shing ]

/ ˈwɒʃ ɪŋ, ˈwɔ ʃɪŋ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR washing ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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

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

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

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.

Mining.

material, as gold dust, obtained by washing earth, gravel, etc.
the deposits so washed.

Metalworking. wash(def 45).

the act of making a wash sale.

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Question 1 of 10

advocate

to give up possession or occupancy of.

to speak or write in favor of; support or urge by argument; recommend publicly.

to pronounce or decree by judicial sentence.

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Origin of washing

First recorded in 1175–1225, washing is from the Middle English word wasschunge. See wash, -ing¹

Words nearby washing

washery, washeteria, washfountain, washin, washiness, washing, washing machine, washing powder, washing soda, washing-up, washington

Definition for washing (2 of 2)

wash

[ wosh, wawsh ]

/ wɒʃ, wɔʃ /

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.

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.

to free from spiritual defilement or from sin, guilt, etc.: to be washed whiter than the snow.

to bathe, wet, or moisten with water or other liquid: a meadow newly washed with morning dew.

to flow through, over, or against: a shore or cliff washed by waves.

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, or along): The storm washed the boat up on the shore. A sailor was washed overboard.

to wear or diminish, as water does by flowing over or against a surface (often followed by out or away): The rain had washed away the lettering on the stone.

(of water) to form by flowing over and eroding a surface: The flood had washed a new channel through the bottom lands.

Mining.

to subject (earth or ore) to the action or force of water in order to separate valuable material.
to separate (valuable material) in this way.

to purify (a gas or gaseous mixture) by passage through or over a liquid.

to cover with a watery or thin coat of color.

to overlay with a thin coat or deposit of metal: to wash brass with gold.

Slang. launder(def 3).

verb (used without object)

to wash oneself: After using the insecticide spray they washed completely.

to wash clothes: Monday is the day we wash.

to cleanse anything with or in water or other liquid.

to undergo washing without injury, especially shrinking or fading: fabrics guaranteed to wash.

Informal. to be found true, valid, or real when tested or closely scrutinized; stand being put to the proof: His honesty won't wash.

to be carried or driven by water (often followed by along or ashore): The boat had washed ashore in the night.

to flow or beat with a lapping sound, as waves on a shore.

to move along in or as in waves, or with a rushing movement, as water.

to be eroded, as by a stream or by rainfall: a hillside that washes frequently.

to be removed by the action of water (often followed by away): Much of the topsoil washes away each spring.

noun

the act or process of washing with water or other liquid: to give the car a wash.

a quantity of clothes, linens, etc., washed, or to be washed, at one time: a heavy wash.

a liquid with which something is washed, wetted, colored, overspread, etc.: She gave the room a wash of pale blue.

the flow, sweep, dash, or breaking of water: The wash of the waves had drenched us.

the sound made by this: listening to the wash of the Atlantic.

water moving along in waves or with a rushing movement: the wash of the incoming tide.

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.

Aeronautics. the disturbance in the air left behind by a moving airplane or any of its parts: wing wash.

any of various liquids for grooming or cosmetic purposes: a hair wash.

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.

Mining. minerals from which valuable material can be extracted by washing.

the wearing away of the shore by breaking waves.

a tract of land washed by the action of the sea or a river.

a marsh, fen, or bog.

a small stream or shallow pool.

a shallow arm of the sea or a shallow part of a river.

a depression or channel formed by flowing water.

Geology. alluvial matter transferred and deposited by flowing water.

Also called dry wash. Western U.S. the dry bed of an intermittent stream.

a broad, thin layer of color applied by a continuous movement of the brush, as in water-color painting.

Also called watershed, weathering. Architecture.

an upper surface so inclined as to shed rain water from a building.
any member of a building having such a surface.

Metalworking. Also washing. a thin coat of metal applied in liquid form: a gold wash.

waste liquid matter, refuse, food, etc., from the kitchen, as for hogs; swill (often used in combination): hogwash.

washy or weak liquor or liquid food.

the fermented wort from which the spirit is extracted in distilling.

Informal. an action that yields neither gain nor loss: The company's financial position is a wash compared with last year.

adjective

capable of being washed without shrinking, fading, etc.; washable: a wash dress.

Verb Phrases

wash down,

to clean completely by washing: to wash down a car.
to facilitate the swallowing of (food or medicine) by drinking water or other liquid: to wash down a meal with a glass of wine.

wash out,

to be removed by washing: The stain wouldn't wash out.
to damage or demolish by the action of water: The embankment was washed out by the storm.
Informal. to fail to qualify or continue; be eliminated: to wash out of graduate school.
to become dim, indistinct, or blurred: The face of the watch washes out in sunlight.

wash up,

to wash one's face and hands: Aren't you going to wash up? Dinner is almost ready.
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.
to end, especially ignominiously (usually in the passive): After that performance, he's all washed up as a singer.

Origin of wash

before 900; Middle English washen (v.), Old English wascan (cognate with Dutch wasschen, German waschen, Old Norse vaska) < Germanic *watskan, equivalent to *wat- (root of water) + *-sk- v. suffix + *-an infinitive suffix

SYNONYMS FOR wash

1 clean, lave, rinse, launder, mop, swab.

4 bedew.

5 bathe.

24 ablution, cleansing, bathing.

37 swamp, morass.

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OTHER WORDS FROM wash

pre·wash, noun, verb (used with object)re·wash, verbun·der·wash, verbwell-washed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for washing

For days, the ruble has been falling and salaries shrinking; shoppers have rushed to snap up TV sets and washing machines.
After His Disastrous Annual Press Conference, Putin Needs A Hug|Anna Nemtsova|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There's a scene in which a nude Amy Elliott-Dunne, played with committed gusto by Rosamund Pike, is washing off in the shower.
Yes, Ben Affleck Goes Full-Frontal in ‘Gone Girl,’ Confronting One of Cinema’s Last Taboos|Marlow Stern|October 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We were finishing steaks at a motel dining room, washing them down with beer, when the waitress could stand it no longer.
Football Great Bob Suffridge Wanders Through the End Zone of Life|Paul Hemphill|September 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The washing, touching, and kissing of these bodies—typical in many West African burials—can be deadly.
Kissing the Corpses in Ebola Country|Abby Haglage|August 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Another high-profile Lib Dem caused outcry by complaining that “the party was washing its dirty linen in public.”
A Sleaze Civil War Engulfs Britain’s Liberal Democrats|Nico Hines|January 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
By the river some women, no larger in appearance than little dolls, were standing and washing.
A Russian Proprietor|Lyof N. Tolstoi
Begin, if raw stock, by washing and rinsing thoroughly in order to remove all natural grease and dirt adhering to the fibre.
The Practical Ostrich Feather Dyer|Alexander Paul
If washing does not remove them, use chloric ether, or new spirits of turpentine.
The Young Housekeeper's Friend|Mrs. (Mary Hooker) Cornelius
Then, after washing their feet, the sweeper and the village headman walk barefoot hurriedly across the fire.
The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India|R. V. Russell
This daily washing is a capital stove; for I find all hands say that, when it is once over, they feel like new men.
The Sea Lions|James Fenimore Cooper

British Dictionary definitions for washing (1 of 3)

washing

/ (ˈwɒʃɪŋ) /

noun

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

liquid in which an article has been washed

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

a thin coat of something applied in liquid form

British Dictionary definitions for washing (2 of 3)

Wash

/ (wɒʃ) /

noun

the Wash a shallow inlet of the North Sea on the E coast of England, between Lincolnshire and Norfolk

British Dictionary definitions for washing (3 of 3)

wash

/ (wɒʃ) /

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 soapshe 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

(often foll by away, etc) to move or be moved by waterthe 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 erodedthe 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 proofyour excuses won't wash with me this time

wash one's hands

euphemistic to go to the lavatory
(usually foll by of) to refuse to have anything more to do (with)

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 washinga thin wash of paint; a hair wash

med

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

come out in the wash informal to become known or apparent in the course of time

Word Origin for wash

Old English wæscan, waxan; related to Old High German wascan; see water

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for washing

wash

[ wŏsh ]

v.

To cleanse, using water or other liquid, usually with soap, detergent, or bleach, by immersing, dipping, rubbing, or scrubbing.

To make moist or wet.

n.

The act or process of cleansing or washing.

A solution used to cleanse or bathe a part.

Idioms and Phrases with washing

wash

In addition to the idioms beginning with wash

wash down
washed out
washed up
wash one's dirty linen in public
wash one's hands of
wash out
wash up

also see:

come out in the wash
won't wash

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washing

noun

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Origin of washing

Words nearby washing