wash1 verbwash2 noun
washwash1 /wɒʃ $ wɒːʃ, wɑːʃ/ ●●● S1 W3 verb 
WORD ORIGINwash1
Origin:
Old English wascanVERB TABLE
wash
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | wash |
| he, she, it | washes | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | washed |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have washed |
| he, she, it | has washed | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had washed |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will wash |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have washed |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am washing |
| he, she, it | is washing | |
| you, we, they | are washing | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was washing |
| you, we, they | were washing | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been washing |
| he, she, it | has been washing | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been washing |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be washing |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been washing |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Wash your face and brush your teeth.
- Could you wash this shirt for me?
- Harry went upstairs to wash.
- Have you boys washed your hands yet?
- I just need to wash before dinner.
- I really must wash the car this weekend.
- I seem to spend all my time washing and ironing these days.
- My jeans need to be washed.
- She was washing her hair when the phone rang.
- The spinach leaves should be washed in cold water.
- When we moved in, we spent a whole day washing all the floors and paintwork.
- You ought to wash that sweater by hand.
- He rolled, sprang on to his feet, and started to wash himself.
- I wished for a new dress as I washed and ironed my old yellow home-made mini for the hundredth time.
- In the bathroom, I washed myself.
- The women undressed and washed her, thickening the shadows with prayer.
- Use a soft bristle brush to loosen the grime and if possible a sprayer to wash it all off.
- You could go over and see it, like a big whale washed up on the shore.
- You were only allowed to wash your clothes once a week.
THESAURUS
to clean something with soap and water: · Our car needs washing.· Make sure that you wash your hands.
British English, do the laundry American English to wash clothes that need to be washed: · Did you do the laundry this morning?· I do the washing on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
British English (also wash up British English), do the dishes American English to wash all the cups, plates, knives etc that you have used during a meal: · If you do the cooking tonight, I’ll do the washing up.· Who’s going to do the dishes?
formal to make something completely clean, especially using a special substance: · Carefully cleanse the cut to get rid of any grit or dirt.
to wash something with water in order to remove soap or dirt: · I’ll just rinse the lettuce under the tap.
to make something very clean, using a stiff brush and water, or soap and water: · Lou was on her knees, scrubbing the kitchen floor.
to wash a floor with a wet mop (=special stick with thick threads on the end): · A cleaner mopped the floor between the beds.
Longman Language Activatorto wash your hands/face/body etc to clean yourself with soap and water: · Harry went upstairs to wash.wash your hands/face/hair etc: · She was washing her hair when the phone rang.· Have you boys washed your hands yet?
British /wash up American to wash your hands and face: · You'll feel better once you've had a wash and something to eat.· You kids go wash up now - dinner's nearly ready.
especially spoken to wash your face and hands so that you feel more comfortable, for example when you have been working hard or travelling: · The bathroom's on the right if you'd like to freshen up.· She hoped there would be time to freshen up before the interview.
to wash yourself after you have got dirty doing something: · I'll make the dinner - just give me chance to get cleaned up first.· He's upstairs in the bathroom getting cleaned up.
to get washed and make yourself look tidy or change your clothes: · She went into the washroom at the airport to get spruced up before meeting the others.
also clean your teeth British to clean your teeth with a small brush: · Have you brushed your teeth this morning?· I cleaned my teeth, flattened down my hair, and rushed out of the door.
to clean your hands or face by gently rubbing them with a cloth or with your hand: · Wipe your face. There's chocolate all around your mouth.· Wiping his oily hands on a piece of cloth, he reached into his pocket and handed me the bill.
to clean your skin, especially using a special liquid cream: · This lotion cleanses your skin deep down, while preserving its natural pH balance.
to wash your hair with shampoo (=a special liquid soap for washing hair): · It's a new conditioner. Simply shampoo your hair, towel dry, and spray it in.
to wash in a bath or shower British /take a shower to wash your whole body while standing under a shower: · I'll just have a quick shower and get changed.· She decided to take a shower before dinner.
British /take a bath American to wash your whole body while sitting in a bath full of water: · Is there enough hot water for me to have a bath?· I just had time to take a bath and change before we had to go out again.
British /be in the bathtub American to be sitting in a bath washing your whole body: · "Where's Barry?" "He's in the bath."· My wife was still in the bathtub when I got back from work.
to have a shower: · I got up early as usual, and showered and shaved.· It's so hot there, you have to shower three or four times a day.
British /bathe American to wash someone, especially a baby or a child, in a bath: · Make sure you bathe the kids and put them to bed before eight.· Louise loved being bathed when she was a baby.
to wash a car/floor/wall etc to clean something using a lot of water, and usually soap: · I really must wash the car this weekend.· When we moved in, we spent a whole day washing all the floors and paintwork.wash in: · The spinach leaves should be washed in cold water.
to clean something using soap and water, and usually by rubbing with a cloth or brush: · Where's that stuff you use for cleaning the bathtub?· I usually clean the windows about once a month.
to wash a floor using a special tool with a long handle that is dipped in a bucket of water: · Dan has to mop the floor of the café every night.
to make something very clean, using a stiff brush and water, or soap and water: · Martin washed the mud off his hands and scrubbed his nails.· Lou was on her knees, scrubbing the kitchen floor.· Scrub the potatoes, then put them in a pan of boiling water.
to wash something large with a lot of water: wash down something: · Wash down the walls and leave them to dry before putting up new wallpaper.wash something down: · Carol washed the van down and checked the oil and tyres.
to wash the inside of a cup, glass, pan, or container: wash out something: · I'll just go and wash out these glasses.wash something out: · When the bottle is empty, wash it out thoroughly before refilling.
to wash clothes to wash clothes, especially in a washing machine: · Could you wash this shirt for me?· I seem to spend all my time washing and ironing these days.· You ought to wash that sweater by hand.
to clean clothes by using special chemicals instead of soap and water: · Don't put that dress in the washing machine - the label says it should be dry-cleaned.
British /do the laundry American to wash clothes that need to be washed: · Did you do the laundry this morning?· I had to go to the laundromat to do the washing.
to wash clothes by hand, not in a washing machine: · I usually hand wash the socks and underwear, and put the rest in the machine.· Delicate garments and woollens should be handwashed.
clothes that are in the wash are being washed or are waiting to be washed: · "Where's my yellow blouse?" "It's in the wash."· You'll have to wear these - your other pants are in the wash.
also washing British clothes that need to be washed, are being washed, or have just been washed: · a basket of laundry· There was dirty washing all over the floor.
able to be washed in water without being spoiled: · Let's have a look at the label on those trousers. Are they washable?· I always buy cotton clothes that are easily washable.
to wash cups/plates/knives etc to wash all the cups, plates, knives etc that you have used during a meal: · My mom always makes me wash the dishes.· Can I help you do the dishes?
British to wash all the cups, plates, knives etc that you have used during a meal: · If you do the cooking tonight, I'll do the washing up.· Who's going to wash up?
to wash something using water but without soap to wash something with water in order to remove soap or dirt: · I'll just rinse the lettuce under the tap.· Rosie rinsed her mouth to get rid of the taste.rinse out something (=quickly clean a container, just using water): · He rinsed out a glass and poured himself a whiskey.
to leave something in water for a long time in order to clean it or make it easier to wash later: · You'll have to soak that shirt to get the blood off it.leave something to soak: · Just leave that pan to soak overnight.
to remove dirt from a piece of clothing or material to remove a mark from a piece of clothing or material: get something out of something: · What can I use to get these wine stains our of the tablecloth?get something out: · It's a pity about the mark on your shirt. Dry cleaning will probably get it out.
British informal to remove a mark which is difficult to remove from a piece of clothing or material: · I've washed the tablecloth three times, but I can't seem to shift these stains.· Blood stains are very difficult to shift.
if dirt or a mark comes out , it is removed by washing or cleaning: · Use plenty of washing powder otherwise mud and grass stains won't come out.
if dirt or a mark washes out , it is removed by washing: · A lot of hair dyes are designed to wash out after three or four washes.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
It’s your turn to wash the dishes. The young man was washed overboard (=pushed from a boat into the sea by the force of the water) in the storm. The body was washed ashore (=brought to the shore by waves).COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Several dead birds had been washed ashore. She circled the bedroom, picking up dirty clothes. I’ll just do the dishes before we go. She hung the clothes out on the washing line (=line for hanging wet clothes on to dry). It’s your turn to do the washing-up, Sam.
It’s your turn to wash the dishes. The young man was washed overboard (=pushed from a boat into the sea by the force of the water) in the storm. The body was washed ashore (=brought to the shore by waves). Several dead birds had been washed ashore. (=for washing the dishes in)· a plastic washing-up bowl
· Wash the dirt off those boots before you come in.
She circled the bedroom, picking up dirty clothes. I’ll just do the dishes before we go.· The floor needs mopping.
· He showered and washed his hair.
· Go wash your hands before dinner.
She hung the clothes out on the washing line (=line for hanging wet clothes on to dry). (=for washing clothes)· Put your dirty clothes straight in the washing machine.
(=ought to be washed, cleaned etc) His hair needs a wash.
His hair needs a wash. It’s your turn to do the washing-up, Sam. (=someone suddenly experiences a feeling or emotion)· A sudden wave of joy swept over her.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· Battered by 50 knot winds and seven-metre seas, the Ambrosia was later washed ashore in Aberdeenshire.· Meanwhile, residents have been reporting pieces of the wreckage washing ashore.· Such was the rorqual whale, 64 feet long with a 12 foot tail, washed ashore in 1879.· Hapless, hopelessly clumsy Gilligan is washed ashore along with the competent, self-assured skipper.· All these bits and pieces washed ashore.· State officials also reported a dead sea turtle had washed ashore.· Rubbish is discarded; that from boats is washed ashore and there is greater disturbance of the animal life.· Only two men washed ashore alive.
NOUN· There she wept for her sins and her tears washed away the blood.· Akiko, the minister cried, the sins of the body will be washed away by the blood of the lamb.· It refreshed Jimmy, though, washing the blood from his eyes.· We began washing the blood from my sides and Polly began peeling the sheet away from me.· With her tongue she tried to wash off the blood that covered him.· The mangled bus had been quickly hauled away and the streets washed clean of blood.· The grim look on his young face as she washed off the dried blood frightened her.· Stepmother Edna pretended that no problem existed, washing out the blood from my clothes with astounding tolerance.
· They drain off as much blood as possible and wash the body with sour wine.· The tight smell of men who have not washed their bodies or known clean clothes.· The embalmer washes the body with germicidal soap and replaces the blood with embalming fluid to preserve the body.· Staff can touch the body provided they wear disposable gloves, although they should not wash the body.· People washed their bodies daily, not weekly.· Tom gently washed Willie's body again and smoothed witch-hazel on to the sore spots.· Rubbing handfuls of small pebbles against my head and skin, I washed my hair and body until I felt raw.
· Consider sentences 16 and 17: 16 Arthur washed and polished the car. 17.· Got ta wash the car and get it all waxed.· You know, wash a car with one hand and feed a bottle to a tiger cub with the other.· Maybe you delivered papers or washed cars.· Moura, who washed cars for a living, denied killing her.· He had a deal going where you put a token in a machine and it washes your car.· Moran washed and polished the car, even cleared rusted machinery from around the house.· Do you have to wash the cars if you drive them?
· Encourage residents to wash and iron their clothes where their eyesight and co-ordination are good.· When she was pregnant, she washed clothes.· You were only allowed to wash your clothes once a week.· Rex, unperturbed, quickly stripped off naked to wash himself and his clothes in the deluge of fresh water.· He had washed his bloodstained clothes, and the next day scrubbed blood from his trainers.· He would not let her wash his work clothes.· Then he calmly washed his clothes and had a bath.· Even in liberated Scandinavia, it is women who feed the family, wash the clothes, and care for the children.
· But he washed his face with cold water, and he began to feel much better.· We wash our face and hands.· She washed her face and smoothed cream over her skin.· Fascinated, I watched as they washed their faces and carefully applied makeup every morning.· He washed his face in the perfume that was her love for him.· Water washed off her bloated face, eyes bulged, an aborted gasp, her nose and upper lip already gone.· Della stopped crying and she washed her face.
· A cleaning woman was laboriously washing the marble floor of the foyer.· We spent the day washing windows five floors above the ground.· A woman's washing the floor with a mop and a bucket.· Anwar asked Changez and me to wash the floor of the shop, thinking that perhaps I could successfully supervise him.· It spilled from the safety deposit boxes and washed over the floors of the rooms.· We washed the blood-stained floors, while my wife and other missionary workers helped in the wards and the laundry.
· They would soon be arrested for indulging in some pornographic practice when they were only wanting to wash one another's feet.· To pass along one of them, he has offered to wash lawyers' feet.· A delicate oriental nurse washed my feet with antiseptic and chatted while the locally injected anaesthetic took effect.· A third was washing his feet in the toilet.· Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet.· I was washing Hugh's feet.· We passed the mosque and saw, through the gateway, men washing their feet.
· I wash my hair and leave it to dry naturally.· Last night she had washed her hair in the metal tub, and today it shone.· We had to wash our own hair and mend our own clothes.· I took a shower and washed my hair with his yucca blossom shampoo.· Anne stayed at home for a week, saw nobody, and washed her hair every day.· There was no indoor plumbing, so I had to wash my hair by a community well.· She moaned shakily, the water washing her hair around her face like a golden fan.· I ask Doi-san if I may wash her hair but she refuses.
· Tell the kids to wash their hands and come in here when the programme's ended.· You must never drop it on the floor and never touch it without washing your hands and face.· Children should always wash their hands before handling food, particularly if they've recently been in contact with pets.· Like those people who keep washing their hands over and over.· Rabia washed her own hands and dried them.· I wash my hands quickly and flee from the restroom.· He'd had time to wash his hands and take off his rubber gloves and apron.· In the office, he went directly to the minuscule bathroom and washed his face and hands.
· All were tested with each stain remover and machine washed afterwards.· He had a deal going where you put a token in a machine and it washes your car.· Product performance was then compared with the effect of machine washing alone, using Persil Automatic Biological Action.· It's the strongest natural fabric and can stand very high temperatures and be machine washed.· Because of the corrosive nature of some machine washing agents some care should be exercised on items selected for this form of disinfection.· It enables the blanket to be machine washed just like any other blanket.
· They swore, too, Ida had said, needing their mouths washed out with strong soap and water.· I would say that Michael Irvin should have his mouth washed out with soap.
· Then we watched the names being washed out as the sea came in and felt sad.· Joe had discovered that at least twenty per cent of these water containers were gone, washed away by the sea.· These could, like the venture in the West Country, reclaim sediments washed out to sea from industrial works.· If so, they have been washed away by the sea.· Satan's bride was washed back from the sea to tempt the men of the land, to betray them.· Dennis Garvey's body was washed up from the sea four days later.· Tempting little offshore islands, washed by warm blue seas - it seemed almost too good to be true!
· The waves get higher and higher and the water washes over and almost sinks Kevin.· Earl Varney was squatting over the creek, dipping a stockinged foot into the water to wash his socks.· She moaned shakily, the water washing her hair around her face like a golden fan.· And both Yosemite and SequoiaKing National Parks became inaccessible as rising water washed out their main access roads but created new waterfalls.· After removing the pan or urinal, give the patient a bowl and water for washing their hands.· Within a minute he was making a fire so that Susan could have warm water to wash in.· The warm water washed over her face and body.· Here, the continuing water diuresis may have washed out the medullary concentration gradient and led to a protracted concentrating defect.
· She heard the indrawn breath hiss sharply through his teeth, and felt the wave of emotion that washed over him.· But the wave simply came, washed into the bamboos, and passed on.· As the wave washes the board shorewards, the rig resists this movement by digging in and sometimes catching the bottom.· She tried to think, but waves of agony kept washing over her, dulling her mind.· The breaking waves were washing clear across the midships space between the cabins.· He was struggling to keep conscious as red-hot waves of nausea washed over him.· He barely looked at me, but a wave of heat washed over me.
VERB· Willie dressed and helped Tom wash his sheets and pyjama trousers.· Afterwards, she helped Penelope wash the dishes, commenting that she had been a dishwasher also at one time.
· You'd need to be washing them every five minutes.· Dishes only need to be washed once a week, because most of them are not really dirtied after use.· She did need a shower to wash away the tension from a day that had been too full of emotion.· I can both cook and eat out of it, and it seldom needs to be washed.· That then needs washing off, proving that the admen have got us every time.· Hair also gets dirtier in cities, so you need to wash hair more often.· It is a myth, put about by parents and soap manufacturers, that we need soap in order to wash.· They swore, too, Ida had said, needing their mouths washed out with strong soap and water.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► wash something ↔ off► wash something ↔ out► wash something ↔ up► something doesn’t/won’t wash (with somebody)► wash your mouth out!
- Silk doesn't wash well.
- Drain the anchovies and wash well to remove the oil from the surface.
- This one is knitted in a linen-mix yarn which washes well and feels especially soft to touch.
- The parade was washed out by heavy thunderstorms.
- If the sea did not constantly encroach, the salt within them would be washed out by rain.
- Leading after three rounds, the fourth was washed out without a ball being hit.
- The material from the iron mortar boxes was washed out on to a screen and the oversize returned to the stamps.
- The pair had played only two points, splitting them, before their match was washed out.
- The tank was washed out too, and placed on a layer of polystyrene on the stand.
- When Hurricane Opal slammed the town in October 1995, the normal route to the mainland was washed out.
- When the first game was washed out as well.
- With dollar cost averaging, the price swings are washed out.
- Dunbar has already washed his hands of the project.
- Chun was not able to wash his hands of the Kwangju massacre, which dogged him throughout his eight-year rule.
- Did you feel like washing your hands of me again?
- I wash my hands of you.
- Imagine Delwyn Pepper up so in New York, washing his hands of our business.
- In the summer of 1988, King Hussein washed his hands of the territories.
- Let us wash our hands of those who do not care for us.
- The sooner it washes its hands of Mr Haider the better.
- We can not wash our hands of this.
WORD FAMILYnounwashwasherwashingadjectivewashableunwashedverbwash
1wash something [transitive] to clean something using water and a type of soap: This shirt needs washing. It’s your turn to wash the dishes.► see thesaurus at clean2wash yourself [intransitive, transitive] 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 When a cat has finished eating, it often washes itself.RegisterIn everyday English, people usually say that someone has a wash (BrE) or washes up (AmE) rather than washes.3flow [intransitive, transitive always + adverb/preposition] 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. The body was washed ashore (=brought to the shore by waves).4something doesn’t/won’t wash (with somebody) spoken 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.5wash your hands of something to refuse to be responsible for something anymore: I’ve washed my hands of the whole affair.6wash your mouth out! spoken old-fashioned used to tell someone who has just sworn or said something rude that they should not have spoken that way7wash well to be easy to clean using soap and water: Silk doesn’t wash well. → wash/air your dirty linen/laundry (in public) at dirty1(7)THESAURUSwash to clean something with soap and water: · Our car needs washing.· Make sure that you wash your hands.do the washing British English, do the laundry American English to wash clothes that need to be washed: · Did you do the laundry this morning?· I do the washing on Wednesdays and Saturdays.do the washing up British English (also wash up British English), do the dishes American English to wash all the cups, plates, knives etc that you have used during a meal: · If you do the cooking tonight, I’ll do the washing up.· Who’s going to do the dishes?cleanse formal to make something completely clean, especially using a special substance: · Carefully cleanse the cut to get rid of any grit or dirt.rinse to wash something with water in order to remove soap or dirt: · I’ll just rinse the lettuce under the tap.scrub to make something very clean, using a stiff brush and water, or soap and water: · Lou was on her knees, scrubbing the kitchen floor.mop to wash a floor with a wet mop (=special stick with thick threads on the end): · A cleaner mopped the floor between the beds.wash something ↔ away phrasal verb1if water washes something away, it carries it away with great force: Floods in Bangladesh have washed hundreds of homes away.2to get rid of unhappy feelings, thoughts, or memories: My anxiety was washed away.wash something ↔ down phrasal verb1to clean something large using a lot of water: Can you wash down the driveway?2to drink something with or after food or with medicine to help you swallow itwash down with steak and chips washed down with red winewash off phrasal verb1 wash something ↔ off to clean dirt, dust etc from the surface of something with water2if a substance washes off, you can remove it from the surface of something by washing: Will this paint wash off?wash out phrasal verb1 wash something ↔ out to wash the inside of something quickly: I’ll just wash out this vase for flowers.2if a substance washes out, you can remove it from a material by washing it: a dye that won’t wash out3be washed out if an event is washed out, it cannot continue because of rain: The summer fair was washed out by the English weather. → washed-out, washoutwash over somebody phrasal verb1if a feeling washes over you, you suddenly feel it very strongly: A feeling of relief washed over her.2if you let something wash over you, you do not pay close attention to it: She was content to let the conversation wash over her.wash up phrasal verb1British English to wash plates, dishes, knives etc → washing-up2American English to wash your hands: Go wash up before dinner.3wash something ↔ up if waves wash something up, they carry it to the shorewash up on His body was washed up on the beach the next morning. → washed-upwash1 verbwash2 noun
washwash2 ●●○ noun EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- an anti-bacterial face wash
- He looks as if he could do with a good wash.
- The floor needs a wash.
- I painted such areas first and then worked around and/or over with diluted washes.
- It is built up in very thin washes.
- Water would shoot down the mountainsides and down the washes at 10-20 times the volume of a typical storm.
Longman Language Activatorto wash your hands/face/body etc
to clean yourself with soap and water: · Harry went upstairs to wash.wash your hands/face/hair etc: · She was washing her hair when the phone rang.· Have you boys washed your hands yet?
British /wash up American to wash your hands and face: · You'll feel better once you've had a wash and something to eat.· You kids go wash up now - dinner's nearly ready.
especially spoken to wash your face and hands so that you feel more comfortable, for example when you have been working hard or travelling: · The bathroom's on the right if you'd like to freshen up.· She hoped there would be time to freshen up before the interview.
to wash yourself after you have got dirty doing something: · I'll make the dinner - just give me chance to get cleaned up first.· He's upstairs in the bathroom getting cleaned up.
to get washed and make yourself look tidy or change your clothes: · She went into the washroom at the airport to get spruced up before meeting the others.
also clean your teeth British to clean your teeth with a small brush: · Have you brushed your teeth this morning?· I cleaned my teeth, flattened down my hair, and rushed out of the door.
to clean your hands or face by gently rubbing them with a cloth or with your hand: · Wipe your face. There's chocolate all around your mouth.· Wiping his oily hands on a piece of cloth, he reached into his pocket and handed me the bill.
to clean your skin, especially using a special liquid cream: · This lotion cleanses your skin deep down, while preserving its natural pH balance.
to wash your hair with shampoo (=a special liquid soap for washing hair): · It's a new conditioner. Simply shampoo your hair, towel dry, and spray it in.
to wash in a bath or shower British /take a shower to wash your whole body while standing under a shower: · I'll just have a quick shower and get changed.· She decided to take a shower before dinner.
British /take a bath American to wash your whole body while sitting in a bath full of water: · Is there enough hot water for me to have a bath?· I just had time to take a bath and change before we had to go out again.
British /be in the bathtub American to be sitting in a bath washing your whole body: · "Where's Barry?" "He's in the bath."· My wife was still in the bathtub when I got back from work.
to have a shower: · I got up early as usual, and showered and shaved.· It's so hot there, you have to shower three or four times a day.
British /bathe American to wash someone, especially a baby or a child, in a bath: · Make sure you bathe the kids and put them to bed before eight.· Louise loved being bathed when she was a baby.
to wash a car/floor/wall etc to clean something using a lot of water, and usually soap: · I really must wash the car this weekend.· When we moved in, we spent a whole day washing all the floors and paintwork.wash in: · The spinach leaves should be washed in cold water.
to clean something using soap and water, and usually by rubbing with a cloth or brush: · Where's that stuff you use for cleaning the bathtub?· I usually clean the windows about once a month.
to wash a floor using a special tool with a long handle that is dipped in a bucket of water: · Dan has to mop the floor of the café every night.
to make something very clean, using a stiff brush and water, or soap and water: · Martin washed the mud off his hands and scrubbed his nails.· Lou was on her knees, scrubbing the kitchen floor.· Scrub the potatoes, then put them in a pan of boiling water.
to wash something large with a lot of water: wash down something: · Wash down the walls and leave them to dry before putting up new wallpaper.wash something down: · Carol washed the van down and checked the oil and tyres.
to wash the inside of a cup, glass, pan, or container: wash out something: · I'll just go and wash out these glasses.wash something out: · When the bottle is empty, wash it out thoroughly before refilling.
to wash clothes to wash clothes, especially in a washing machine: · Could you wash this shirt for me?· I seem to spend all my time washing and ironing these days.· You ought to wash that sweater by hand.
to clean clothes by using special chemicals instead of soap and water: · Don't put that dress in the washing machine - the label says it should be dry-cleaned.
British /do the laundry American to wash clothes that need to be washed: · Did you do the laundry this morning?· I had to go to the laundromat to do the washing.
to wash clothes by hand, not in a washing machine: · I usually hand wash the socks and underwear, and put the rest in the machine.· Delicate garments and woollens should be handwashed.
clothes that are in the wash are being washed or are waiting to be washed: · "Where's my yellow blouse?" "It's in the wash."· You'll have to wear these - your other pants are in the wash.
also washing British clothes that need to be washed, are being washed, or have just been washed: · a basket of laundry· There was dirty washing all over the floor.
able to be washed in water without being spoiled: · Let's have a look at the label on those trousers. Are they washable?· I always buy cotton clothes that are easily washable.
to wash cups/plates/knives etc to wash all the cups, plates, knives etc that you have used during a meal: · My mom always makes me wash the dishes.· Can I help you do the dishes?
British to wash all the cups, plates, knives etc that you have used during a meal: · If you do the cooking tonight, I'll do the washing up.· Who's going to wash up?
to wash something using water but without soap to wash something with water in order to remove soap or dirt: · I'll just rinse the lettuce under the tap.· Rosie rinsed her mouth to get rid of the taste.rinse out something (=quickly clean a container, just using water): · He rinsed out a glass and poured himself a whiskey.
to leave something in water for a long time in order to clean it or make it easier to wash later: · You'll have to soak that shirt to get the blood off it.leave something to soak: · Just leave that pan to soak overnight.
WORD SETSbin, nounbin liner, nounboil, verbborax, nounBrillo pad, nounbroom, nounbroomstick, nouncarpet sweeper, nounchar, verbchar, nouncharlady, nouncharwoman, nounchimney sweep, nouncleaner, nouncleanser, nounclothes basket, nounclothesline, nounclothes peg, nounconditioner, noundeodorize, verbdescale, verbdisinfect, verbdisinfectant, noundry-clean, verbdust, verbduster, noundustpan, nounfabric softener, nounfeather duster, nounflush, verbFrench polish, nounfumigate, verbhamper, nounHoover, nounhoover, verbhygiene, nounhygienic, adjectivekitchen roll, nounlaundry basket, nounlimescale, nounline, nounload, nounmangle, nounmop, nounmop, verbpolish, nounrag, nounrinse, verbrinse, nounsanitary, adjectivesanitation, nounscour, verbscourer, nounscrub, verbscrub, nounscrubbing brush, nounshampoo, nounsoak, verbsoak, nounsoapflakes, nounsoap powder, nounsoapsuds, nounsoapy, adjectivesoda, nounsoftener, nounspin, verbspin-dryer, nounsqueegee, nounstarch, verbsuds, nounswab, verbsweep, verbsweep, nounsweeper, nounsweepings, nounswill, verbswill, nountea cloth, nountea towel, nountide-mark, nounturpentine, nounturps, nounvacuum, nounvacuum, verbvacuum cleaner, nounwash, nounwashable, adjectivewashboard, nounwashcloth, nounwashday, nounwasher, nounwasher-dryer, nounwashing, nounwashing line, nounwashing machine, nounwashing powder, nounwashing soda, nounwashing-up, nounwashing-up liquid, nounwashtub, nounwhisk broom, nounwindow cleaner, nounwipe, verbwire wool, nounwring, verbwringer, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Those jeans need a good wash (=a thorough wash). I’ll just have a quick wash before we go out. You’d better put that shirt in the wash.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Several dead birds had been washed ashore. She circled the bedroom, picking up dirty clothes. I’ll just do the dishes before we go. She hung the clothes out on the washing line (=line for hanging wet clothes on to dry). It’s your turn to do the washing-up, Sam.
Those jeans need a good wash (=a thorough wash). I’ll just have a quick wash before we go out. You’d better put that shirt in the wash. Several dead birds had been washed ashore. (=for washing the dishes in)· a plastic washing-up bowl
· Wash the dirt off those boots before you come in.
She circled the bedroom, picking up dirty clothes. I’ll just do the dishes before we go.· The floor needs mopping.
· He showered and washed his hair.
· Go wash your hands before dinner.
She hung the clothes out on the washing line (=line for hanging wet clothes on to dry). (=for washing clothes)· Put your dirty clothes straight in the washing machine.
(=ought to be washed, cleaned etc) His hair needs a wash.
His hair needs a wash. It’s your turn to do the washing-up, Sam. (=someone suddenly experiences a feeling or emotion)· A sudden wave of joy swept over her.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· Rains like these were an opportunity for a good wash, no doubt, and a bit of messing about.· They knew that, like the Dickensian waif, a good wash and new clothes would reveal an angelic face.
· I dashed past her and, stopping a safe distance away, I had a quick wash and watched her and Marcus.· Programmes include intensive, gentle and quick washes and a time-delay feature.· That gave her time to go for a quick wash.· Ten minutes flew by but we managed to unpack, have a quick wash and change.· He had a quick wash and shave, put on a clean shirt and hurried out to his car.
VERB· The cherry red formica-faced sink unit had been given a wash down.· Then give it another wash with moss killer to keep it clean.· When I got home with it, I gave it a wash, and tried it out almost immediately.
· I had tried to excuse our conduct by telling him we had just needed a wash.· Judy figures it will be needing a wash job.· His black hair needs a wash.· I know it needs a wash, but I have to.· Her hair needs a wash, skin shines on nose, bones and muscles lie beneath pallid skin.
WORD FAMILYnounwashwasherwashingadjectivewashableunwashedverbwash
1act of cleaning [countable usually singular] an act of cleaning something using soap and water: Those jeans need a good wash (=a thorough wash). I’ll just have a quick wash before we go out.2clothes [singular, uncountable] clothes that are to be washed, are being washed, or have just been washed: You’d better put that shirt in the wash. Do you need me to put another wash on?3skin [countable] a liquid used to clean your skin: an anti-bacterial facial wash4boat the wash the movement of water caused by a passing boat: the wash of a large motorboat5colour [countable] a very thin transparent layer of paint or colour6area of land the wash an area of land that is sometimes covered by the sea7it will all come out in the wash spoken a)used to tell someone not to worry about a problem because it will be solved in the future b)used to say that the truth about something will be known in the end