wash
wash Lexical Profile
wash Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To clean with water and, typically, soap or detergent.
"Please remember to wash your hands thoroughly before preparing the food."
To flow through or over a surface, often removing or carrying something away (especially of water or waves).
"The incoming tide will soon wash the footprints away from the wet sand."
To seem convincing, credible, or acceptable as true (typically used in negative constructions).
"That flimsy excuse simply won't wash with the district manager."
• noun
The act or process of cleaning something with water and usually soap or detergent.
"Your car is incredibly muddy and could really use a good wash."
North American A quantity of clothes, linens, or other fabrics set aside to be cleaned; laundry.
"She sorted the dark wash from the light wash before turning on the machine."
A situation in which gains and losses or advantages and disadvantages exactly balance each other out.
"Since we both paid for each other's lunches this week, we can just call the expenses a wash."
Word Nuance & Usage
As a noun, the phrase 'a wash' is often used informally to describe a situation where gains and losses perfectly offset each other, resulting in a tie or neutral outcome.
• Rhymes for wash
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'wascan', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch 'wassen' and German 'waschen'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.