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| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | wascan |
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wash1 S1 W3
1 to clean something using water and a type of soap : This shirt needs washing.
wash something
[transitive]This shirt needs washing.2 to clean your body with soap and water : Amy washed and went to bed. She had a hot bath and washed her hair. I'm just going to wash my hands.
wash yourself
[intransitive and transitive]Amy washed and went to bed.She had a hot bath and washed her hair.I'm just going to wash my hands.3 if a river, sea etc washes somewhere, or if something carried by the river or sea is washed somewhere, it flows or moves there : The waves washed against the shore. The sea washed over her. The young man was washed overboard (=pushed from a boat into the sea by the force of the water) in the storm.
flow
[intransitive,transitive always + adverb/preposition]The waves washed against the shore.The sea washed over her.The young man was washed overboard (=pushed from a boat into the sea by the force of the water) in the storm.4 used to say that you do not believe or accept someone's explanation, reason, attitude etc : I'm sorry but all his charm just doesn't wash with me.
something doesn't/won't wash (with somebody)
spokenI'm sorry but all his charm just doesn't wash with me.5 to refuse to be responsible for something any more : I've washed my hands of the whole affair.
wash your hands of something
I've washed my hands of the whole affair.6 used to tell someone who has just sworn or said something rude that they should not have spoken that way
wash your mouth out!
spoken old-fashioned➔ wash/air your dirty linen/laundry (in public)
at dirty1 (7)wash something ↔ away
phrasal verb1 if water washes something away, it carries it away with great force : Floods in Bangladesh have washed hundreds of homes away.
Floods in Bangladesh have washed hundreds of homes away.2 to get rid of unhappy feelings, thoughts, or memories : My anxiety was washed away.
My anxiety was washed away.wash something ↔ down
phrasal verb1DHC to clean something large using a lot of water : Can you wash down the driveway?
Can you wash down the driveway?2 to drink something with or after food or with medicine to help you swallow it
wash off
phrasal verb2 if a substance washes off, you can remove it from the surface of something by washing : Will this paint wash off?
Will this paint wash off?wash out
phrasal verb1DHC to wash the inside of something quickly : I'll just wash out this vase for flowers.
wash something ↔ out
I'll just wash out this vase for flowers.2 if a substance washes out, you can remove it from a material by washing it : a dye that won't wash out
a dye that won't wash out3 if an event is washed out, it cannot continue because of rain : The summer fair was washed out by the English weather.
be washed out
The summer fair was washed out by the English weather.wash over somebody
phrasal verb1 if a feeling washes over you, you suddenly feel it very strongly : A feeling of relief washed over her.
A feeling of relief washed over her.2 if you let something wash over you, you do not pay close attention to it : She was content to let the conversation wash over her.
She was content to let the conversation wash over her.wash up
phrasal verb2 American English to wash your hands : Go wash up before dinner.
Go wash up before dinner.WORD FOCUS: clean WORD FOCUS: clean
wash with soap and water
wipe with a damp cloth
brush with a brush to remove the dirt
polish by rubbing with a cloth
scrub by rubbing hard
sweep with a broom
mop with water and a mop (a tool with a long handle)
vacuum also hoover British English with a machine that sucks up dust
disinfect using chemicals to kill germs
cleanse to clean your skin using a special cream
rinse to put water on to remove dirt or soap
dust to remove dust, for example with a cloth
➔ See also clean
WORD FOCUS: clean wash with soap and water
wipe with a damp cloth
brush with a brush to remove the dirt
polish by rubbing with a cloth
scrub by rubbing hard
sweep with a broom
mop with water and a mop (a tool with a long handle)
vacuum also hoover British English with a machine that sucks up dust
disinfect using chemicals to kill germs
cleanse to clean your skin using a special cream
rinse to put water on to remove dirt or soap
dust to remove dust, for example with a cloth
➔ See also clean
