WASHING

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does washing mean? 

• WASHING (noun)
  The noun WASHING has 2 senses:

1. the work of cleansing (usually with soap and water)

2. garments or white goods that can be cleaned by laundering

  Familiarity information: WASHING used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• WASHING (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The work of cleansing (usually with soap and water)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

lavation; wash; washing

Hypernyms ("washing" is a kind of...):

work (activity directed toward making or doing something)

Meronyms (parts of "washing"):

rinse; rinsing (the removal of soap with clean water in the final stage of washing)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "washing"):

bathing; washup (the act of washing yourself (or another person))

ablution (the ritual washing of a priest's hands or of sacred vessels)

dishwashing; washup (the act of washing dishes)

washing-up (the washing of dishes etc after a meal)

window-washing (the activity of washing windows)

rinse (washing lightly without soap)

soak; soaking (washing something by allowing it to soak)

laundering (washing clothes and bed linens)

Derivation:

wash (cleanse (one's body) with soap and water)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Garments or white goods that can be cleaned by laundering

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

laundry; wash; washables; washing

Hypernyms ("washing" is a kind of...):

garment (an article of clothing)

household linen; white goods (drygoods for household use that are typically made of white cloth)

 Context examples 

Vaccines, proper hand washing and medicines can help prevent infections.

(Infectious Diseases, NIH: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)

Proper hand washing is the most effective way to prevent the spread of infections in hospitals.

(Infection Control, NIH)

The best prevention is frequent hand washing.

(Gastroenteritis, NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

Frequently washing your hands might help prevent getting the virus.

(Fifth Disease, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

“That you are at least consistent,” was all I could say, and I went on washing the dishes.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

In medicine, washing out an organ (such as the stomach or colon), a body cavity, or a wound by flushing it with a fluid.

(Irrigation, NCI Dictionary)

I cannot abide anything but country washing.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The Oswestry Disability Index Version 2.1a (ODI v2.1a) Section 2: Personal care (washing, dressing, etc.).

(ODI v2.1a - Personal Care, NCI Thesaurus)

Washing out the bronchi and alveoli by flushing with a fluid.

(Bronchoalveolar Lavage, NCI Thesaurus)

The process of washing the skin using chlorhexidine gluconate.

(Chlorhexidine Gluconate Cleansing, NCI Thesaurus)