Definitions of washing
British English : washing Washing is clothes, sheets, and other things that need to be washed, are being washed, or have just been washed.They brought the washing in before it rained.ˈwɒʃɪŋ NOUN
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
verb
- to apply water or other liquid, usually with soap, to (oneself, clothes, etc) in order to cleanse
- (transitive; often followed by away, from, off, etc ) to remove by the application of water or other liquid and usually soap ⇒ she washed the dirt from her clothes
- (intransitive) 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
- (transitive) to cleanse from pollution or defilement
- (transitive) to make wet or moist
- often foll by away, etc to move or be moved by water ⇒ the 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 eroded ⇒ the stream washed a ravine in the hill
- (transitive) to apply a thin coating of paint, metal, etc, to
- (transitive) to separate (ore, precious stones, etc) from (gravel, earth, or sand) by immersion in water
- (intransitive; usually used with a negative) (informal , mainly British ) to admit of testing or proof ⇒ your excuses won't wash with me this time
- See wash one's hands
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 washing ⇒ a thin wash of paint , a hair wash
- (medicine ) any medicinal or soothing lotion for application to a part of the body (in combination) ⇒ an eyewash
- 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 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
- See come out in the wash
- any medicinal or soothing lotion for application to a part of the body
- (in combination) ⇒ an eyewash
- the technique of making wash drawings
- See wash drawing