[wash] vb [ME, fr. OE wascan; akin to OHG waskan to wash and perh. to OE waeter water] vt (bef. 12c) 1 a: to cleanse by or as if by the action of liquid (as water) b: to remove (as dirt) by rubbing or drenching with liquid
2: to cleanse (fur) by licking or by rubbing with a paw moistened with saliva 3 a: to flush or moisten (a bodily part or injury) with a liquid b (1): to wet thoroughly: drench (2): to overspread with light: suffuse c: to pass a liquid (as water) over or through esp. so as to carry off material from the surface or interior
4: to flow along or dash or overflow against "waves ~ing the shore"
5: to move, carry, or deposit by or as if by the force of water in motion "houses ~ed away by the flood"
6. a: to subject (as crushed ore) to the action of water to separate valuable material b: to separate (particles) from a substance (as ore) by agitation with or in water c (1): to pass through a bath to carry off impurities or soluble components (2): to pass (a gas or gaseous mixture) through or over a liquid to purify it esp. by removing soluble components
7. a: to cover or daub lightly with or as if with an application of a thin liquid (as whitewash or varnish) b: to depict or paint by a broad sweep of thin color with a brush 8: to cause to swirl "~ing coffee around in his cup" 9: launder 3 "how the mob ~es its money through corrupt bankers --Vincent Teresa" ~ vi 1: to wash oneself or a part of one's body
2: to become worn away by the action of water
3: to clean something by rubbing or dipping in water
4. a: to become carried along on water: drift "cakes of ice ~ing along" b: to pour, sweep, or flow in a stream or current "waves of pioneers ~ing westward --Green Peyton"
5: to serve as a cleansing agent "this soap ~es thoroughly"
6. a: to undergo laundering "this dress doesn't ~ well" b (1): to undergo testing successfully: work
4. "an interesting theory, but it just won't ~" (2): to gain acceptance: inspire belief "the story didn't ~ with me" -- wash one's hands of : to disclaim interest in, responsibility for, or further connection with
[2]wash n (15c) 1 a: a piece of ground washed by the sea or river b: bog, marsh c (1): a shallow body of water (2): a shallow creek d West: the dry bed of a stream--called also dry wash
2. a: the act or process or an instance of washing or being washed b: articles to be washed, being washed, or having been washed
3: the surging action of waves
4. a: worthless esp. liquid waste: refuse b: an insipid beverage c: vapid writing or speech
5. a: a sweep or splash esp. of color made by or as if by a long stroke of a brush b: a thin coat of paint (as watercolor) c: a thin liquid used for coating a surface (as a wall)
6: lotion 7: loose or eroded surface material of the earth (as rock debris) transported and deposited by running water
8. a: backwash 1 b: a disturbance in the air produced by the passage of an airfoil or propeller 9: a situation in which losses and gains or advantages and disadvantages balance each other [3]wash adj (1634) 1: washable "~ fabric"
2: involving essentially simultaneous purchase and sale of the same security "spurious market activity resulting from ~ trading"