wash
♦ wash /w'ɒʃ/ (washes washing washed)
1 [VERB] V n, V n prep, V n with adv
If you wash something, you clean it using water and usually a substance such as soap or detergent.
He got a job washing dishes in a pizza parlour...
It took a long time to wash the mud out of his hair...
Rub down the door and wash off the dust before applying the varnish.
[N-COUNT]
Wash is also a noun.
That coat could do with a wash...
The treatment leaves hair glossy and lasts 10 to 16 washes.
2 [VERB] V, V n, get V-ed
If you wash or if you wash part of your body, especially your hands and face, you clean part of your body using soap and water.
They looked as if they hadn't washed in days...
She washed her face with cold water...
You are going to have your dinner, get washed, and go to bed.
[N-COUNT] usu a N in sing
Wash is also a noun.
She had a wash and changed her clothes.
3 [VERB] V prep/adv, V n with adv, also V n prep
If a sea or river washes somewhere, it flows there gently. You can also say that something carried by a sea or river washes or is washed somewhere.
The sea washed against the shore...
The force of the water washed him back into the cave.
4 [N-SING] the N
The wash of a boat is the wave that it causes on either side as it moves through the water.
...the wash from large ships.
5 [VERB] V over/through n
If a feeling washes over you, you suddenly feel it very strongly and cannot control it. (WRITTEN)
A wave of self-consciousness can wash over her when someone new enters the room...
6 [VERB] usu with brd-neg, V, V with n
If you say that an excuse or idea will not wash, you mean that people will not accept or believe it. (INFORMAL)
He said her policies didn't work and the excuses didn't wash...
If they believe that solution would wash with the Haitian people, they are making a dramatic error.
7
see also washing
8 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you say that something such as an item of clothing is in the wash, you mean that it is being washed, is waiting to be washed, or has just been washed and should therefore not be worn or used. (INFORMAL)
Your jeans are in the wash.
9
to wash your dirty linen in public: see dirty
to wash your hands of something: see handwash away
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
If rain or floods wash away something, they destroy it and carry it away.
Flood waters washed away one of the main bridges in Pusan...wash down
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P, also V P n (not pron)
If you wash something, especially food, down with a drink, you drink the drink after eating the food, especially to make the food easier to swallow or digest.
He took two aspirin immediately and washed them down with three cups of water.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
If you wash down an object, you wash it all, from top to bottom.
The prisoner started to wash down the walls of his cell.wash out
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron)
If you wash out a container, you wash the inside of it.
It was my job to wash out the fish tank.
= clean out
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P
If dye or dirt washes out, it can be removed by washing.
With permanent tints, the result won't wash out.
3 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron)
If rain washes out a sports game or other event, it spoils it or prevents it from continuing.
Rain washed out five of the last seven games.
4
see also washed-out, washoutwash over
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n
If something someone does or says washes over you, you do not notice it or it does not affect you in any way.
The television headlines seemed to wash over her without meaning anything.wash up
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P n (not pron), also V n P
If you wash up, you wash the plates, cups, cutlery, and pans which have been used for cooking and eating a meal. (BRIT; in AM, use wash the dishes)
I ran some hot water and washed up...
I bet you make breakfast and wash up their plates, too.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P
If you wash up, you clean part of your body with soap and water, especially your hands and face. (AM; in BRIT, use wash)
He headed to the bathroom to wash up.
3 [PHRASAL VERB] usu passive, be V-ed P prep/adv, V-ed P
If something is washed up on a piece of land, it is carried by a river or sea and left there.
Thousands of herring and crab are washed up on the beaches during every storm...
The fossils appear to be an early form of seaweed washed up on a beach.
4
see also washed up, washing-up
1 [VERB] V n, V n prep, V n with adv
If you wash something, you clean it using water and usually a substance such as soap or detergent.
He got a job washing dishes in a pizza parlour...
It took a long time to wash the mud out of his hair...
Rub down the door and wash off the dust before applying the varnish.
[N-COUNT]
Wash is also a noun.
That coat could do with a wash...
The treatment leaves hair glossy and lasts 10 to 16 washes.
2 [VERB] V, V n, get V-ed
If you wash or if you wash part of your body, especially your hands and face, you clean part of your body using soap and water.
They looked as if they hadn't washed in days...
She washed her face with cold water...
You are going to have your dinner, get washed, and go to bed.
[N-COUNT] usu a N in sing
Wash is also a noun.
She had a wash and changed her clothes.
3 [VERB] V prep/adv, V n with adv, also V n prep
If a sea or river washes somewhere, it flows there gently. You can also say that something carried by a sea or river washes or is washed somewhere.
The sea washed against the shore...
The force of the water washed him back into the cave.
4 [N-SING] the N
The wash of a boat is the wave that it causes on either side as it moves through the water.
...the wash from large ships.
5 [VERB] V over/through n
If a feeling washes over you, you suddenly feel it very strongly and cannot control it. (WRITTEN)
A wave of self-consciousness can wash over her when someone new enters the room...
6 [VERB] usu with brd-neg, V, V with n
If you say that an excuse or idea will not wash, you mean that people will not accept or believe it. (INFORMAL)
He said her policies didn't work and the excuses didn't wash...
If they believe that solution would wash with the Haitian people, they are making a dramatic error.
7
see also washing
8 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you say that something such as an item of clothing is in the wash, you mean that it is being washed, is waiting to be washed, or has just been washed and should therefore not be worn or used. (INFORMAL)
Your jeans are in the wash.
9
to wash your dirty linen in public: see dirty
to wash your hands of something: see handwash away
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
If rain or floods wash away something, they destroy it and carry it away.
Flood waters washed away one of the main bridges in Pusan...wash down
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P, also V P n (not pron)
If you wash something, especially food, down with a drink, you drink the drink after eating the food, especially to make the food easier to swallow or digest.
He took two aspirin immediately and washed them down with three cups of water.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
If you wash down an object, you wash it all, from top to bottom.
The prisoner started to wash down the walls of his cell.wash out
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron)
If you wash out a container, you wash the inside of it.
It was my job to wash out the fish tank.
= clean out
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P
If dye or dirt washes out, it can be removed by washing.
With permanent tints, the result won't wash out.
3 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron)
If rain washes out a sports game or other event, it spoils it or prevents it from continuing.
Rain washed out five of the last seven games.
4
see also washed-out, washoutwash over
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n
If something someone does or says washes over you, you do not notice it or it does not affect you in any way.
The television headlines seemed to wash over her without meaning anything.wash up
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P n (not pron), also V n P
If you wash up, you wash the plates, cups, cutlery, and pans which have been used for cooking and eating a meal. (BRIT; in AM, use wash the dishes)
I ran some hot water and washed up...
I bet you make breakfast and wash up their plates, too.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P
If you wash up, you clean part of your body with soap and water, especially your hands and face. (AM; in BRIT, use wash)
He headed to the bathroom to wash up.
3 [PHRASAL VERB] usu passive, be V-ed P prep/adv, V-ed P
If something is washed up on a piece of land, it is carried by a river or sea and left there.
Thousands of herring and crab are washed up on the beaches during every storm...
The fossils appear to be an early form of seaweed washed up on a beach.
4
see also washed up, washing-up