Search results for 'wash':

wash verb (washes, washed, washing) 1 to cleanse someone or something with water or other liquid, and usually soap or detergent. 2 intrans to cleanse oneself, or one's hands and face, with water, etc. 3 intrans said of a fabric or dye: to withstand washing without change or damage. 4 tr & intr (usually wash off or out, etc or wash something off or out, etc) said of dirt or a stain: to be removed, or remove it, through washing. 5 tr & intr said of an animal: to lick (itself or its young, etc) clean. 6 to moisten or wet (eg an injured part). 7 (usually wash against or over something) said of a river, the sea, waves, etc: to flow against or over (a place or land feature, etc). 8 said of flowing water: to erode or gouge out (a channel, etc) in the landscape. 9 to cover (a surface, eg a wall) with a thin layer of metal. 10 in watercolour painting: to cover (paper) with a thin layer of watery paint or ink. 11 intrans, colloq to stand the test; to bear investigation • That excuse just won't wash. 12 mining to separate (ore) from earth with a flow of water. 13 literary to spread over something. noun (washes) 1 the process of washing or being washed. 2 this process undertaken by a laundry. 3 a quantity of clothes, etc for washing, or just washed. 4 the breaking of waves against something; the sound of this. 5 the rough water or disturbed air left by a ship or aircraft. 6 often in compounds a lotion or other preparation for cleansing or washing • facewash. 7 kitchen slops or brewery waste, etc for giving to pigs. 8 art a thin application of water colour. come out in the wash 1 said of a mark or stain, etc: to disappear after washing. 2 colloq to turn out satisfactorily, or become intelligible, in the end. wash one's hands of something or someone to abandon responsibility for it or them.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon wæscan.