wipe
to rub lightly with or on a cloth, towel, paper, the hand, etc., in order to clean or dry the surface of: He wiped the furniture with a damp cloth.
to rub or draw (something) over a surface, as in cleaning or drying.
to remove by rubbing with or on something (usually followed by away, off, out, etc.): Wipe the dirt off your shoes. Wipe the dust from the pictures.
to remove as if by rubbing (usually followed by away, off, etc.): Wipe that smile off your face!
to erase, as from existence or memory (often followed by from): to wipe a thought from one's mind.
to erase (magnetic tape, a recording, etc.)
to delete the entire contents and settings of (a digital storage device, mobile device, etc.):She remotely wiped her computer after it was stolen.
Plumbing.
to apply (solder in a semifluid state) by spreading with leather or cloth over the part to be soldered.
to form (a joint) in this manner.
Machinery. (of a rotating shaft or the like) to melt the brasses of (a bearing) through friction.
Australian Slang. to refuse to have anything to do with; reject; dismiss.
(in a video game) to suffer a defeat in which all cooperative player characters in a group are killed: After hours in that dungeon, our group wiped and we had to start again from the beginning.
an act of wiping: He gave a few quick wipes to the furniture.
a rub, as of one thing over another.
Also called wipe-off .Movies. a technique in film editing by which the projected image of a scene appears to be pushed or wiped off the screen by the image that follows.
a piece of absorbent material, as of paper or cloth, used for wiping.
a sweeping stroke or blow.
a gibe.
Machinery. wiper (def. 5).
(in a video game) a defeat in which all cooperative player characters in a group are killed: a total party wipe.
Slang. a handkerchief.
wipe out,
to destroy completely; demolish: The entire city was wiped out.
Informal. to murder; kill: They wiped him out to keep him from testifying.
Slang. to beat decisively, as in sports.
Slang. (in sports) to be taken out of competition by a fall, accident, collision, etc.
Slang. to intoxicate or cause to become high, especially on narcotic drugs.
wipe up, to clean completely by wiping: to wipe up the mess on the floor.
Origin of wipe
1Other words for wipe
Words Nearby wipe
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use wipe in a sentence
We are here to support women when their personal preference is to use a wash, wipes, or any of our products.
A feminine wash for teens? Angry parents and gynecologists are on a social media crusade. | Abigail Higgins | February 12, 2021 | Washington PostA baby wipe is perfect to grab to clean up small spills, because they are mild and safe.
Hints From Heloise: Keep out cold air with a ‘snake in the draft’ | Heloise Heloise | January 7, 2021 | Washington PostHe said the brand’s body wipes were often sold through boutique fitness studios, though he declined to share the sales drop of body wipes.
What happened to beauty’s on-the-go wipes brands in 2020? | jim cooper | December 29, 2020 | DigidayThe wipes came to market in 2000 when the company was trying to figure out how to give users an easier way to apply disinfectant.
How Clorox’s new CEO plans to turn disinfectant wipes into future wins | Phil Wahba | October 21, 2020 | FortuneIf you must go to the gym, bring plenty of cleaning wipes with you to scrub down the equipment before and after you use it, Sickbert-Bennett says.
The safest ways to exercise during a pandemic | Sara Kiley Watson | September 9, 2020 | Popular-Science
As Kate was driven away, she appeared to wipe a tear from her eye.
Tearful Kate Weeps After Meeting Mother Whose Baby Died | Tom Sykes | November 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTSome locations even employ chlorine mats that service members are required to wipe their feet on in order to enter.
An agent insisted they proceed anyway and she asked to go to the bathroom, apparently to wipe the stuff off her hands.
The Mystery Woman Who Tried to Outdo Dillinger | Michael Daly | September 29, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIn the winter, they can shield drivers from the annoyance of having to wipe snow and ice off their windshields.
The trucking roads make it easier for predators to wipe out prey.
Here, Mr. Slocum paused to wipe his spectacles, and the wife seized the opportunity to press the question.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun; | VariousAmid the hush that followed, the stranger picked himself slowly up, and sought to wipe the filth from his face and garments.
St. Martin's Summer | Rafael SabatiniDey's squar little towels what you holds in yer lap to wipe yer fingers on when you've done eatin'.
The Cromptons | Mary J. HolmesYou may wipe off the worst of the spot with your napkin, and then let it pass without further notice.
The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness | Florence HartleyJust before we reached the grave, Armand stopped to wipe his face, which was covered with great drops of sweat.
Camille (La Dame aux Camilias) | Alexandre Dumas, fils
British Dictionary definitions for wipe
/ (waɪp) /
to rub (a surface or object) lightly, esp with (a cloth, hand, etc), as in removing dust, water, grime, etc
(usually foll by off, away, from, up, etc) to remove by or as if by rubbing lightly: he wiped the dirt from his hands
to eradicate or cancel (a thought, memory, etc)
to erase a recording from (an audio or video tape)
Australian informal to abandon or reject (a person)
to apply (oil, grease, etc) by wiping
to form (a joint between two lead pipes) with solder or soft lead
wipe the floor with someone informal to defeat someone decisively
the act or an instance of wiping
(in film editing) an effect causing the transition from one scene to the next in which the image of the first scene appears to be wiped off the screen by that of the second
dialect a sweeping blow or stroke
British dialect a gibe or jeer
obsolete a slang name for handkerchief
Origin of wipe
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with wipe
In addition to the idioms beginning with wipe
- wipe off the map
- wipe out
- wipe the slate clean
also see:
- mop up (wipe) the floor with
- settle (wipe out) an old score
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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