̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˈwāshən noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English evacuacioun, from Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French evacuation, from Late Latin evacuation-, evacuatio, from Latin evacuatus + -ion-, -io -ion
1. : the act of emptying, clearing of the contents, or discharging
easy and resounding evacuation of words — Philip Wylie
it is very wrong … to hold back a natural evacuation of joy — Robertson Davies
as
a. : the withdrawal of troops from a town or fortress, of a population from a city or territory, or of sick and wounded from a combat area
demanded the immediate evacuation of foreign troops
evacuation of the threatened city had begun
b. : any organized withdrawal or removal (as of persons or things) from a place or area especially as a protective measure
as flood waters rose evacuation of families and farm animals was begun
advised evacuation of the precious art collection to a neutral country
c. : discharge of any matter by the natural passages of the body or by an artificial opening : defecation
2. : something that is evacuated or discharged by natural or artificial means