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¹wash

verb \ˈwȯsh, ˈwäsh, chiefly Midland also ˈwȯrsh or ˈwärsh\

: to clean (something) with water and usually soap

: to carry (something) by the movement of water

: to be carried by the movement of water

Full Definition of WASH

transitive verb

a : to cleanse by or as if by the action of liquid (as water)

b : to remove (as dirt) by rubbing or drenching with liquid

: to cleanse (fur) by licking or by rubbing with a paw moistened with saliva

a : to flush or moisten (a bodily part or injury) with a liquid

b (1) : to wet thoroughly : drench (2) : to overspread with light : suffuse

c : to pass a liquid (as water) over or through especially so as to carry off material from the surface or interior

: to flow along or dash or overflow against <waves washing the shore>

: to move, carry, or deposit by or as if by the force of water in motion <houses washed away by the flood>

a : to subject (as crushed ore) to the action of water to separate valuable material

b : to separate (particles) from a substance (as ore) by agitation with or in water

c (1) : to pass through a bath to carry off impurities or soluble components (2) : to pass (a gas or gaseous mixture) through or over a liquid to purify it especially by removing soluble components

a : to cover or daub lightly with or as if with an application of a thin liquid (as whitewash or varnish)

b : to depict or paint by a broad sweep of thin color with a brush

: to cause to swirl <washing coffee around in his cup>

: launder 3 <how the mob washes its money through corrupt bankers — Vincent Teresa>

intransitive verb

: to wash oneself or a part of one's body

: to become worn away by the action of water

: to clean something by rubbing or dipping in water

a : to become carried along on water : drift <cakes of ice washing along>

b : to pour, sweep, or flow in a stream or current <waves of pioneers washing westward — Green Peyton>

: to serve as a cleansing agent <this soap washes thoroughly>

a : to undergo laundering <this dress doesn't wash well>

b (1) : to undergo testing successfully : work 4 <an interesting theory, but it just won't wash> (2) : to gain acceptance : inspire belief <the story didn't wash with me>

— wash one's hands of

: to disclaim interest in, responsibility for, or further connection with

See wash defined for English-language learners

See wash defined for kids

Origin of WASH

Middle English, from Old English wascan; akin to Old High German waskan to wash and perhaps to Old English wæter water

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to WASH

Synonyms: bathe, lap, lave, lip, splash

Antonyms: pour, roll, stream

Rhymes with WASH

bosh, cosh, Foch, frosh, gosh, gouache, josh, mâche, mosh, nosh, posh, quash, slosh, squash, swash, tosh

²wash

noun

: an act of cleaning something by using water and soap : an act of washing something

: a group of clothes, towels, sheets, etc., that are being washed or that are going to be washed

: the movement of water; especially : the waves made in the water after a moving boat passes by

Full Definition of WASH

a : a piece of ground washed by the sea or river

b : bog, marsh

c (1) : a shallow body of water (2) : a shallow creek

d West : the dry bed of a stream —called also dry wash

a : the act or process or an instance of washing or being washed

b : articles to be washed, being washed, or having been washed

: the surging action or sound of waves; also : something resembling this action or sound <the warm wash of applause that followed her … introduction — John Updike>

a : worthless especially liquid waste : refuse

b : an insipid beverage

c : vapid writing or speech

a : a sweep or splash especially of color made by or as if by a long stroke of a brush <in the gray wash of early morning>

b : a thin coat of paint (as watercolor)

c : a thin liquid used for coating a surface (as a wall)

: lotion

: loose or eroded surface material of the earth (as rock debris) transported and deposited by running water

a : backwash 1

b : a disturbance in a fluid (as water or the air) produced by the passage of an airfoil or propeller

: a situation in which losses and gains or advantages and disadvantages balance each other

See wash defined for English-language learners