wipe

[ wahyp ]

/ waɪp /

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verb (used with object), wiped, wip·ing.

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.

verb (used without object)

(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.

noun

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.

Verb Phrases

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.

OTHER WORDS FOR wipe

4 erase, eradicate, banish.

See synonyms for wipe on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "IS" VS. "ARE"

"Is" it time for a new quiz? "Are" you ready? Then prove your excellent skills on using "is" vs. "are."

Question 1 of 7

IS and ARE are both forms of which verb?

have

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of wipe

First recorded before 1000; Middle English wipen, Old English wīpian; cognate with Old High German wīfan “to wind round,” Gothic weipan “to crown”; perhaps akin to Latin vibrāre “to move to and fro”

Words nearby wipe

Wintun, win-win, winy, winze, WIP, wipe, wiped-out, wipe off the map, wipeout, wiper, wipe the slate clean

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

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 Post
A 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 Post
He 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|Digiday
The 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|Fortune

Wiping down stations with alcohol wipes helps, and keeping gym-goers separated enough so they aren’t all huffing and puffing on each other lowers the chance of passing illnesses.
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|DAILY BEAST
Some locations even employ chlorine mats that service members are required to wipe their feet on in order to enter.
U.S. Soldiers Get Just Four Hours of Ebola Training|Tim Mak|October 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
In the winter, they can shield drivers from the annoyance of having to wipe snow and ice off their windshields.
Paved Paradise|The Daily Beast|September 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The trucking roads make it easier for predators to wipe out prey.
Our Trip to The Climate War's Ground Zero|Darren Aronofsky|September 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
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;|Various
Amid 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 Sabatini
Dey's squar little towels what you holds in yer lap to wipe yer fingers on when you've done eatin'.
The Cromptons|Mary J. Holmes
You 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 Hartley
Just 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

wipe

/ (waɪp) /

verb (tr)

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 lightlyhe 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

noun

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

Word Origin for wipe

Old English wīpian, related to Middle Low German wīpen, wīp bundle (of cloth), Old High German wīffa, wīfan to wind, Gothic weipan to wreathe

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with wipe

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

wipe

OTHER WORDS FOR wipe

Origin of wipe

Words nearby wipe

Words related to wipe

How to use wipe in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for wipe

Word Origin for wipe

Other Idioms and Phrases with wipe