Wash

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (intransitive), Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

Wash, v. t. [OE. waschen, AS. wascan; akin to D. wasschen, G. waschen, OHG. wascan, Icel. & Sw. vaska, Dan. vaske, and perhaps to E. water.

•  To cleanse by ablution, or dipping or rubbing in water; to apply water or other liquid to for the purpose of cleansing; to scrub with water, etc., or as with water; as, to wash the hands or body; to wash garments; to wash sheep or wool; to wash the pavement or floor; to wash the bark of trees.  [1913 Webster]

  "When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, . . . he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person."  [1913 Webster]
•  To cover with water or any liquid; to wet; to fall on and moisten; hence, to overflow or dash against; as, waves wash the shore.  [1913 Webster]

  "Fresh-blown roses washed with dew."  [1913 Webster]

  "[The landscape] washed with a cold, gray mist."  [1913 Webster]
•  To waste or abrade by the force of water in motion; as, heavy rains wash a road or an embankment.  [1913 Webster]
•  To remove by washing to take away by, or as by, the action of water; to drag or draw off as by the tide; -- often with away, off, out, etc.; as, to wash dirt from the hands.  [1913 Webster]

  "Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins."  [1913 Webster]

  "The tide will wash you off."  [1913 Webster]
•  To cover with a thin or watery coat of color; to tint lightly and thinly.  [1913 Webster]
•  To overlay with a thin coat of metal; as, steel washed with silver.  [1913 Webster]
•  To cause dephosphorisation of (molten pig iron) by adding substances containing iron oxide, and sometimes manganese oxide.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
•  To pass (a gas or gaseous mixture) through or over a liquid for the purpose of purifying it, esp. by removing soluble constituents.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

To wash gold, etc., to treat earth or gravel, or crushed ore, with water, in order to separate the gold or other metal, or metallic ore, through their higher density. -- To wash the hands of. See under Hand.

Wash, v. i. 

•  To perform the act of ablution.  [1913 Webster]

  "Wash in Jordan seven times."  [1913 Webster]
•  To clean anything by rubbing or dipping it in water; to perform the business of cleansing clothes, ore, etc., in water.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]
•  To bear without injury the operation of being washed; as, some calicoes do not wash.  [1913 Webster]
•  To be wasted or worn away by the action of water, as by a running or overflowing stream, or by the dashing of the sea; -- said of road, a beach, etc.  [1913 Webster]
•  To use washes, as for the face or hair.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
•  To move with a lapping or swashing sound, or the like; to lap; splash; as, to hear the water washing.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
•  to be accepted as true or valid; to be proven true by subsequent evidence; -- usually used in the negative; as, his alibi won't wash.  [PJC]

Wash, n. 

•  The act of washing; an ablution; a cleansing, wetting, or dashing with water; hence, a quantity, as of clothes, washed at once.  [1913 Webster]
•  A piece of ground washed by the action of a sea or river, or sometimes covered and sometimes left dry; the shallowest part of a river, or arm of the sea; also, a bog; a marsh; a fen; as, the washes in Lincolnshire.  Cowper.  [1913 Webster]

  "These Lincoln washes have devoured them."  [1913 Webster]
•  Substances collected and deposited by the action of water; as, the wash of a sewer, of a river, etc.  [1913 Webster]

  "The wash of pastures, fields, commons, and roads, where rain water hath a long time settled."  [1913 Webster]
•  Waste liquid, the refuse of food, the collection from washed dishes, etc., from a kitchen, often used as food for pigs.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]
•  The fermented wort before the spirit is extracted.  B. Edwards.  [1913 Webster]
•  That with which anything is washed, or wetted, smeared, tinted, etc., upon the surface.  [1913 Webster]
•  The blade of an oar, or the thin part which enters the water.  [1913 Webster]
•  The flow, swash, or breaking of a body of water, as a wave; also, the sound of it.  [1913 Webster]
•  Ten strikes, or bushels, of oysters.  [1913 Webster]
•  Gravel and other rock débris transported and deposited by running water; coarse alluvium.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
•  The dry bed of an intermittent stream, sometimes at the bottom of a cañon; as, the Amargosa wash, Diamond wash; -- called also dry wash.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
•  The upper surface of a member or material when given a slope to shed water. Hence, a structure or receptacle shaped so as to receive and carry off water, as a carriage wash in a stable.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
•  an action or situation in which the gains and losses are equal, or closely compensate each other.  [PJC]
•  the disturbance of the air left behind in the wake of a moving airplane or one of its parts.  [PJC]

Wash ball, a ball of soap to be used in washing the hands or face. Swift. -- Wash barrel (Fisheries), a barrel nearly full of split mackerel, loosely put in, and afterward filled with salt water in order to soak the blood from the fish before salting. -- Wash bottle. (Chem.) (a) A bottle partially filled with some liquid through which gases are passed for the purpose of purifying them, especially by removing soluble constituents. (b) A washing bottle. See under Washing. -- Wash gilding. See Water gilding. -- Wash leather, split sheepskin dressed with oil, in imitation of chamois, or shammy, and used for dusting, cleaning glass or plate, etc.; also, alumed, or buff, leather for soldiers' belts.

Wash, a. 

•  Washy; weak.  [1913 Webster]

  "Their bodies of so weak and wash a temper."  [1913 Webster]
•  Capable of being washed without injury; washable; as, wash goods.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Wash, v. & n.
--v.
1 tr. cleanse (oneself or a part of oneself, clothes, etc.) with liquid, esp. water.
2 tr. (foll. by out, off, away, etc.) remove a stain or dirt in this way.
3 intr. wash oneself or esp. one's hands and face.
4 intr. wash clothes etc.
5 intr. (of fabric or dye) bear washing without damage.
6 intr. (foll. by off, out) (of a stain etc.) be removed by washing.
7 tr. poet. moisten, water (tear-washed eyes; a rose washed with dew).
8 tr. (of a river, sea, etc.) touch (a country, coast, etc.) with its waters.
9 tr. (of moving liquid) carry along in a specified direction (a wave washed him overboard; was washed up on the shore).
10 tr. a scoop out (the water had washed a channel). b erode, denude (sea-washed cliffs).
11 intr. (foll. by over, along, etc.) sweep, move, or splash.
12 tr. sift (ore) by the action of water.
13 tr. a brush a thin coat of watery paint or ink over (paper in water-colour painting etc., or a wall). b (foll. by with) coat (inferior metal) with gold etc.
--n.
1 a the act or an instance of washing; the process of being washed (give them a good wash; only needed one wash). b (prec. by the) treatment at a laundry etc. (sent them to the wash).
2 a quantity of clothes for washing or just washed.
3 the visible or audible motion of agitated water or air, esp. due to the passage of a ship etc. or aircraft.
4 a soil swept off by water; alluvium. b a sandbank exposed only at low tide.
5 kitchen slops and scraps given to pigs.
6 a thin, weak, or inferior liquid food. b liquid food for animals.
7 a liquid to spread over a surface to cleanse, heal, or colour.
8 a thin coating of water-colour, wall-colouring, or metal.
9 malt etc. fermenting before distillation.
10 a lotion or cosmetic.

Idiom

come out in the wash colloq. be clarified, or (of contingent difficulties) be resolved or removed, in the course of time. wash-and-wear adj. (of a fabric or garment) easily and quickly laundered. wash-basin a basin for washing one's hands, face, etc. wash one's dirty linen in public see LINEN. wash down
1 wash completely (esp. a large surface or object).
2 (usu. foll. by with) accompany or follow (food) with a drink. washed out 1 faded by washing.
2 pale.
3 colloq. limp, enfeebled. washed up esp. US sl. defeated, having failed. wash one's hands euphem. go to the lavatory. wash one's hands of renounce responsibility for. wash-hand stand = WASHSTAND. wash-house a building where clothes are washed. wash-leather chamois or similar leather for washing windows etc.
wash out
1 clean the inside of (a thing) by washing.
2 clean (a garment etc.) by brief washing.
3 a rain off (an event etc.). b colloq. cancel.
4 (of a flood, downpour, etc.) make a breach in (a road etc.).
wash-out n.
1 colloq. a fiasco; a complete failure.
2 a breach in a road, railway track, etc., caused by flooding (see also WASHOUT).
wash up
1 tr. (also absol.) esp. Brit. wash (crockery and cutlery) after use.
2 US wash one's face and hands. won't wash esp. Brit. colloq. (of an argument etc.) will not be believed or accepted.

Etymology

OE w{aelig}scan etc. f. Gmc, rel. to WATER

THESAURUS

Wash

ablution, abstergent, acrylic painting, apply paint, aquarelle, babble, backwash, baptize, bath, bathe, baygall, be consistent, be the case, be true, be truthful, bedaub, bedizen, begild, besmear, bog, bottom, bottomland, bottoms, brew, brush on paint, bubble, buffalo wallow, burble, calcimine, canvas, cathartic, chromogen, cleaner, cleaning agent, cleaning out, cleaning solvent, cleanser, cleansing cream, coat, coat of paint, coating, cold cream, color, color filter, color gelatin, colorant, coloring, complexion, condensation trail, conform to fact, contrail, cover, cream, dab, daub, dead-color, deep-dye, dentifrice, depurant, detergent, dip, distemper, diuretic, double-dye, douche, douching, drench, drier, drouk, dye, dyestuff, easel-picture, elution, elutriation, emblazon, emetic, enamel, encaustic cerography, encaustic painting, enema, engild, everglade, exhaust, exterior paint, face, fast-dye, fen, fenland, finger painting, flat coat, flat wash, float, floor enamel, flower painting, flush, flush out, flushing, flushing out, fresco, fresco painting, gargle, genre painting, gild, glade, glaze, gloss, gouache, grain, grisaille, ground, guggle, gurgle, hog wallow, hold, hold good, hold together, hold true, hold up, hold water, holm, holystone, hue, illuminate, illumination, illustration, imbrue, imbue, impasto, impregnate, infiltrate, infuse, ingrain, inject, interior paint, irrigate, irrigation, japan, lacquer, lap, lapping, lather, lathering, launder, laundering, laundry, lavabo, lavage, lavation, lave, laving, lay on color, leach, lip, lixiviate, lotion, macerate, marais, marish, marsh, marshland, meadow, medium, mere, mire, monochrome, moor, moorland, mop, mop up, mopping, mopping up, morass, moss, mouthwash, mud, mud flat, mural painting, nauseant, oil, oil painting, opaque color, paint, painting, parget, peat bog, percolate, permeate, picturization, pigment, plash, portraiture, poster painting, prime, prime coat, primer, priming, prove out, prove to be, prove true, pumice stone, purgative, purge, purifier, purl, quagmire, quicksand, remain valid, ride, rinse, rinse out, rinsing, ripple, ritually immerse, salt marsh, saturate, scour, scouring, scrub, scrub up, scrubbing, scrubbing up, seethe, shade, shadow, shampoo, shellac, shower, slob land, slop on paint, slosh, slough, sluice, sluice out, smear, soak, soap, soaping, sodden, solvent, sop, sough, souse, splash, sponge, sponging, stain, stand the test, stand up, steep, stick together, stipple, stream, sump, swab, swabbing, swale, swamp, swampland, swash, swish, synthetic detergent, syringe, taiga, tempera, the brush, thinner, tinct, tinction, tincture, tinge, tint, toivel, tone, tooth powder, toothpaste, track, transparent color, trill, tub, tubbing, turpentine, turps, undercoat, undercoating, vapor trail, varnish, vehicle, vortex, wake, wallow, wash coat, wash drawing, wash out, wash up, washday, washing, washing up, washout, washup, water, waterlog, whitewash, wiping up

ROGET THESAURUS

Wash

Cleanness

N cleanness, cleanliness, purity, cleaning, purification, defecation, purgation, lustration, detersion, abstersion, epuration, mundation, ablution, lavation, colature, disinfection, drainage, sewerage, lavatory, laundry, washhouse, washerwoman, laundress, dhobi, laundryman, washerman, scavenger, dustman, sweep, white wings brush, broom, besom, mop, rake, shovel, sieve, riddle, screen, filter, blotter, napkin, cloth, maukin, malkin, handkerchief, towel, sudary, doyley, doily, duster, sponge, mop, swab, cover, drugget, wash, lotion, detergent, cathartic, purgative, purifier, disinfectant, aperient, benzene, benzine benzol, benolin, bleaching powder, chloride of lime, dentifrice, deobstruent, laxative, clean, cleanly, pure, immaculate, spotless, stainless, taintless, trig, without a stain, unstained, unspotted, unsoiled, unsullied, untainted, uninfected, sweet, sweet as a nut, neat, spruce, tidy, trim, gimp, clean as a new penny, like a cat in pattens, cleaned, kempt, abstergent, cathartic, cleansing, purifying, neatly, clean as a whistle.

VB be clean, render clean, clean, cleanse, mundify, rinse, wring, flush, full, wipe, mop, sponge, scour, swab, scrub, brush up, wash, lave, launder, buck, absterge, deterge, decrassify, clear, purify, depurate, despumate, defecate, purge, expurgate, elutriate, lixiviate, edulcorate, clarify, refine, rack, filter, filtrate, drain, strain, disinfect, fumigate, ventilate, deodorize, whitewash, castrate, emasculate, sift, winnow, pick, weed, comb, rake, brush, sweep, rout out, clear out, sweep out, make a clean sweep of.

Covering

VB cover, superpose, superimpose, overlay, overspread, wrap, encase, incase, face, case, veneer, pave, paper, tip, cap, bind, bulkhead, bulkhead in, clapboard, coat, paint, varnish, pay, incrust, stucco, dab, plaster, tar, wash, besmear, bedaub, anoint, do over, gild, plate, japan, lacquer, lacker, enamel, whitewash, parget, lay it on thick, overlie, overarch, endome, conceal, anodize, galvanize.

Water

VB be watery, reek, add water, water, wet, moisten, dilute, dip, immerse, merge, immerge, submerge, plunge, souse, duck, drown, soak, steep, macerate, pickle, wash, sprinkle, lave, bathe, affuse, splash, swash, douse, drench, dabble, slop, slobber, irrigate, inundate, deluge, syringe, inject, gargle.

Marsh

N marsh, swamp, morass, marish, moss, fen, bog, quagmire, slough, sump, wash, mud, squash, slush, baygall, cienaga, jhil, vlei, marsh, marshy, swampy, boggy, plashy, poachy, quaggy, soft, muddy, sloppy, squashy, paludal, moorish, moory, fenny.

Color

N color, hue, tint, tinge, dye, complexion, shade, tincture, cast, livery, coloration, glow, flush, tone, key, pure color, positive color, primary color, primitive complementary color, three primaries, spectrum, chromatic dispersion, broken color, secondary color, tertiary color, local color, coloring, keeping, tone, value, aerial perspective, chromatics, spectrum analysis, spectroscopy, chromatism, chromatography, chromatology, prism, spectroscope, spectrograph, spectrometer, colorimeter (optical instruments), pigment, coloring matter, paint, dye, wash, distemper, stain, medium, mordant, oil paint, colored, colorific, tingent, tinctorial, chromatic, prismatic, full-colored, high-colored, deep-colored, doubly-dyed, polychromatic, chromatogenous, tingible, bright, vivid, intense, deep, fresh, unfaded, rich, gorgeous, gay, gaudy, florid, gay, garish, rainbow-colored, multihued, showy, flaunting, flashy, raw, crude, glaring, flaring, discordant, inharmonious, mellow, pastel, harmonious, pearly, sweet, delicate, tender, refined.

VB color, dye, tinge, stain, tint, tinct, paint, wash, ingrain, grain, illuminate, emblazon, bedizen, imbue, paint.

Painting

VB paint, design, limn draw, sketch, pencil, scratch, shade, stipple, hatch, dash off, chalk out, square up, color, dead color, wash, varnish, draw in pencil, paint in oils, stencil, depict.

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