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. 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.
[ OE wscan etc. f. Gmc, rel. to WATER ]