/ waɪp; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
1.
wipe sth (on / with sth) to rub sth against a surface, in order to remove dirt or liquid from it; to rub a surface with a cloth, etc. in order to clean it :
[ vn ]
Please wipe your feet on the mat.
He wiped his hands on a clean towel.
She was sniffing and wiping her eyes with a tissue.
[ vn - adj ]
He wiped his plate clean with a piece of bread.
2.
[ vn ] wipe sth (from / off sth) | wipe sth (away / off / up) to remove dirt, liquid, etc. from sth by using a cloth, your hand, etc. :
He wiped the sweat from his forehead.
She wiped off her make-up.
Use that cloth to wipe up the mess.
( figurative )
Wipe that stupid smile off your face.
3.
[ vn ] wipe sth (off / off sth) to remove information, sound, images, etc. from a computer, tape or video
SYN erase :
You must have wiped off that programme I recorded.
Somebody had wiped all the tapes.
4.
[ vn ] wipe sth from sth | wipe sth out to deliberately forget an experience because it was unpleasant or embarrassing
SYN erase :
I tried to wipe the whole episode from my mind.
You can never wipe out the past.
•
IDIOMS
- wipe sb/sth off the face of the earth | wipe sth off the map
- wipe the slate clean
—more at floor noun
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- wipe sth down
- wipe sth off sth
- wipe out
- wipe sb out
- wipe sb/sth out
■ noun
1.
an act of cleaning sth using a cloth :
Can you give the table a quick wipe?
2.
a special piece of thin cloth or soft paper that has been treated with a liquid and that you use to clean away dirt and bacteria :
Remember to take nappies and baby wipes .
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English wīpian , of Germanic origin ; related to whip .