/wuyp/ , v. , wiped, wiping , n.
v.t.
1. to rub lightly with or on a cloth, towel, paper, the hand, etc., in order to clean or dry the surface of: He wiped the furniture with a damp cloth.
2. to rub or draw (something) over a surface, as in cleaning or drying.
3. to remove by rubbing with or on something (usually fol. by away, off, out, etc.): Wipe the dirt off your shoes. Wipe the dust from the pictures.
4. to remove as if by rubbing (usually fol. by away, off, etc.): Wipe that smile off your face!
5. to erase, as from existence or memory (often fol. by from ): to wipe a thought from one's mind.
6. to erase (magnetic tape, a recording, etc.).
7. Plumbing.
a. to apply (solder in a semifluid state) by spreading with leather or cloth over the part to be soldered.
b. to form (a joint) in this manner.
8. Mach. (of a rotating shaft or the like) to melt the brasses of (a bearing) through friction.
9. Australian Slang. to refuse to have anything to do with; reject; dismiss.
10. wipe out ,
a. to destroy completely; demolish: The entire city was wiped out.
b. Informal. to murder; kill: They wiped him out to keep him from testifying.
c. Slang. to beat decisively, as in sports.
d. Slang. (in sports) to be taken out of competition by a fall, accident, collision, etc.
e. Slang. to intoxicate or cause to become high, esp. on narcotic drugs.
11. wipe up , to clean completely by wiping: to wipe up the mess on the floor.
n.
12. an act of wiping: He gave a few quick wipes to the furniture.
13. a rub, as of one thing over another.
14. Also called wipe-off . Motion Pictures. a technique in film editing by which the projected image of a scene appears to be pushed or wiped off the screen by the image that follows.
15. a piece of absorbent material, as of paper or cloth, used for wiping.
16. a sweeping stroke or blow.
17. a gibe.
18. Mach. wiper (def. 5).
19. Slang. a handkerchief.
[ bef. 1000; ME (v.), OE wipian; c. OHG wifan to wind round, Goth weipan to crown; perh. akin to L vibrare to move to and fro ]
Syn. 4. erase, eradicate, banish.