wash
/wɒʃ/ IELTSAcademic
verb
To clean something with water and often soap. It can also mean to clean part of your body or clothes this way.
- Please wash your hands before dinner.
- I wash my shirts on Sundays.
- She washed the cups after tea.
noun
An act of washing, or the result of water moving over something. It can also mean clothes or dishes that need washing.
- Give the car a quick wash.
- The river left a mud wash on the path.
- I have a big wash to do today.
Adinary Nuance
Wash is the basic, everyday word for cleaning with water. It is more direct and common than clean, which is broader and may not involve water. It is also less formal than words like launder for clothes or bathe for people.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- rửa
- Spanish
- lavar
- Chinese
- 洗
- Japanese
- 洗う
- Korean
- 씻다
Etymology
Old English weascian meant “to wash.” It comes from a Germanic root and has stayed common in English since early times.
Common phrases
wash your handswash the disheswash clothesgive something a wash
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is wash more common than clean?
- Yes, when you mean cleaning with water. Use **clean** for a wider meaning.
- Can I say wash for clothes?
- Yes. You can say "wash clothes" or "do the wash."
- Is wash formal or informal?
- It is common and neutral. People use it in both speech and writing.