wash

[[t]wɒʃ, wɔʃ[/t]]

v. t.

1) to cleanse by dipping, rubbing, or scrubbing in water or some other liquid

2) to remove (dirt or other matter) by or as if by the action of water

3) to free from spiritual defilement or from sin, guilt, etc

4) to moisten with water or other liquid

5) to flow through, over, or against:

a beach washed by waves[/ex]

6) to carry, remove, or deposit by means of water or any liquid:

A sailor was washed overboard[/ex]

7) (of water) to form by flowing over and eroding a surface:

The flood washed a new channel through the gully[/ex]

8) min

a) to subject (earth or ore) to the action or force of water in order to separate valuable material

b) to separate (valuable material) in this way

9) to cover with a watery or thin coat of color

10) mel to overlay with a thin coat or deposit of metal:

to wash brass with gold[/ex]

11) to wash oneself

12) to wash clothes

13) to cleanse anything in a liquid

14) to undergo washing without shrinking, fading, etc

15) inf Informal. to prove true when subjected to testing:

His alibi simply won't wash[/ex]

16) to be carried or driven by water

17) to flow or beat with a lapping sound, as waves

18) to move along in or as if in waves

19) to be removed by the action of water (often fol. by away)

20) phv wash down

a) to clean completely by washing

b) to facilitate the swallowing of (food or medicine) by drinking liquid

21) phv wash out

a) to be removed by washing

b) to damage or demolish by the action of water:

The embankment was washed out by the storm[/ex]

c) inf phv Informal. to fail to qualify or continue; be eliminated:

to wash out of graduate school[/ex]

22) phv wash up

a) to wash one's face and hands:

to wash up before dinner[/ex]

b) to wash dishes, flatware, etc

23) the act or process of washing with water or other liquid

24) a quantity of clothes, linens, etc., washed, or to be washed, at one time:

a heavy wash[/ex]

25) a liquid with which something is colored, overspread, etc.:

She gave the room a wash of pale blue[/ex]

26) the flow, sweep, or breaking of water

27) the sound made by this

28) water moving along in waves or with a rushing movement:

the wash of the incoming tide[/ex]

29) naut. the rough or broken water left behind a moving ship, boat, etc.; wake

30) aer. the disturbance in the air left behind by a moving airplane or any of its parts:

wing wash[/ex]

31) any of various liquids for grooming:

a hair wash[/ex]

32) med a lotion or other liquid having medicinal properties (often used in combination): mouthwash

33) geo a tract of land washed by the action of the sea or a river

34) geo a marsh or bog

35) geo a small stream or shallow pool

36) geo a shallow arm of the sea or a shallow part of a river

37) geo a depression or channel formed by flowing water

38) geo dial. Western U.S. the dry bed of a stream

39) fia a broad, thin layer of color applied by a continuous movement of the brush, as in watercolor painting

40) mel

Also, washing a thin coat of metal applied in liquid form:

a gold wash[/ex]

41) waste liquid matter, refuse, food, etc., from the kitchen, as for hogs; swill (often used in combination):

hogwash[/ex]

42) weak or watered liquor

43) capable of being washed without shrinking, fading, etc.; washable

•

- come out in the wash

Etymology: bef. 900; ME; OE wascan, c. OOHG wascan, ON vaska; akin to water