wash
wash — verb
1. to remove dirt or marks from an object or surface by rubbing it in water, often
to remove dirt or marks from an object or surface by rubbing it in water, often with soap
Gabriel washed the dishes right after dinner so they would not pile up.
wash + object (dishes, clothes, car)
The mechanic washed the grease off his hands with a special soap.
Omar always washes his car on Saturday mornings in the driveway.
Hui washed the muddy boots under the garden tap before going inside.
- dirty
to make something unclean, the opposite action of washing
文法句型
wash + object (item being cleaned)
用法筆記
Commonly used with an adverb or preposition to show where or how the cleaning happens (wash off, wash out, wash away).
常見錯誤
2. to use water and soap to clean yourself, including specific parts of your body s
to use water and soap to clean yourself, including specific parts of your body such as your hands or face
After the long hike, Trang washed her face with cool water from the stream.
wash + body part (face, hands, hair)
The toddler cried when his mother tried to wash his hair with shampoo.
Felipe always washes before breakfast to feel fresh for the day.
The nurse told the patient to wash between his toes carefully every day.
文法句型
wash + optional object (yourself / body part)
用法筆記
When no object is given (e.g. 'I washed and dressed quickly'), it implies washing your whole body. When a body part is named, use a possessive determiner: 'she washed her hair', not 'she washed the hair'.
常見錯誤
3. describes how a fabric or an item of clothing reacts to being cleaned with water
describes how a fabric or an item of clothing reacts to being cleaned with water without losing colour, shape, or quality
This woollen sweater washes beautifully and stays soft even after many uses.
material + washes + adverb (well, beautifully)
The cotton bedsheets from the market did not wash well and shrank in the first cycle.
Aarav only buys clothes that wash easily without needing special care.
These jeans have washed dozens of times and still look like new.
- launder
more formal; 'launder' is a verb for the process, not a quality of the fabric
文法句型
wash + adverb (well, beautifully)
material + washes + adverb
用法筆記
Almost always used with an adverb such as 'well', 'badly', 'beautifully', or 'easily'. The subject is the fabric or garment, not the person washing.
常見錯誤
4. when water moves in a particular direction, often repeatedly against a surface s
when water moves in a particular direction, often repeatedly against a surface such as a shore, rock, or wall
The river water washes over the smooth stones in the shallow part of the stream.
water + washes + preposition (over, against, through)
Élise listened to the rain washing against the bedroom window all night long.
Warm ocean water washes gently against the white sand of the beach.
Sea water washes through the narrow channel twice every day.
文法句型
water + washes + adverb/preposition (against, over, through)
用法筆記
Always used with a preposition or adverb to show direction. The subject is the water itself, not a person. Common prepositions: against, over, through, along, past.
5. when the sea or a large body of water moves something or someone from one place
when the sea or a large body of water moves something or someone from one place to another, often by pushing with waves or current
The strong current washed the small boat away from the dock during the storm.
be washed + adverb/preposition (away, ashore, out)
After the shipwreck, Christopher was washed ashore on a small island.
Erik watched the plastic bottles wash up on the beach with every high tide.
The flood waters washed the wooden bridge downstream during the night.
文法句型
wash + object + adverb/preposition
be washed + adverb/preposition
用法筆記
Often used in the passive voice: 'was washed away/ashore/overboard'. The object being moved is typically inanimate, but can refer to a person in dramatic contexts.
wash — noun
1. the occasion of cleaning an object or surface — for example dishes, a car, or th
the occasion of cleaning an object or surface — for example dishes, a car, or the floor — using water and often soap
Theo gave his car a good wash before the family road trip at the weekend.
give something a wash
Hui could not sleep until she had a quick wash and brushed her teeth.
The kitchen floor needs a wash after cooking a big meal with many guests.
The dog needed a wash after rolling in the mud at the park.
文法句型
have a wash
give something a wash
用法筆記
Usually used with 'have' or 'give' ('have a wash', 'give something a wash'). British English uses this more than American English for body washing.
常見錯誤
2. the collection of clothes, sheets, and towels that are being washed or need to b
the collection of clothes, sheets, and towels that are being washed or need to be cleaned, especially in a machine
Trang put her jeans and T-shirts into the wash before going to work.
in the wash / do the wash
Felipe separated the white wash from the dark clothes to avoid colour bleeding.
The baby's blankets are in the wash because she spilled juice on them.
Aarav sorted the wash into three piles before loading the machine.
- laundry
more general; 'laundry' includes dry cleaning and ironing, while 'wash' implies machine washing only
文法句型
do the wash
in the wash
用法筆記
American English uses 'the wash' where British English uses 'the washing'. Common phrases: 'do the wash', 'in the wash', 'a load of wash'.
常見錯誤
3. a term used in British English to refer to the general activity or items involve
a term used in British English to refer to the general activity or items involved in cleaning clothes and household fabrics
Omar hung the wash on the line in the garden to dry in the afternoon sun.
hang the wash — British idiom for hanging laundry
The bed sheets are in the wash and will be ready by tomorrow morning.
The wash from the camping trip included muddy socks and wet towels.
Christopher forgot to take the wash out of the machine before work.
用法筆記
In British English, this functions as a synonym for 'washing' (the noun form). It is less common in American English where 'laundry' is preferred for this sense.
4. the activity of washing your own body, for example by having a bath, taking a sh
the activity of washing your own body, for example by having a bath, taking a shower, or cleaning just your hands or face
After working in the garden all morning, Christopher needed a good wash.
have / need a wash (body)
Aarav had a quick wash in the bathroom before the dinner guests arrived.
The hikers stopped at the stream for a wash after walking for six hours.
Erik gave his face a quick wash before meeting the neighbours.
文法句型
have a wash
need a wash
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 covers washing objects (car, dishes, floor), while sense 4 is specifically for body washing. In British English, 'have a wash' almost always means cleaning yourself.
5. the task or activity of cleaning clothes, sheets, and other fabric items, typica
the task or activity of cleaning clothes, sheets, and other fabric items, typically using a washing machine
Élise does the wash every Sunday evening so her uniforms are ready for the week.
do the wash
The wash from three households filled the laundromat machines completely.
Erik forgot to take the wash out of the machine before going to bed.
Ayana does the wash on Sundays so her children have clean uniforms for Monday.
- laundry
more common in American English; 'laundry' can also include dry cleaning
文法句型
do the wash
用法筆記
Frequently used in the phrase 'do the wash'. In American English, 'do the laundry' is more common. In British English, 'do the washing' is standard.
常見錯誤
6. a thin coating of liquid — especially paint thinned with water or clean water al
a thin coating of liquid — especially paint thinned with water or clean water alone — lightly brushed onto a surface to produce a soft, see-through effect in art
The artist applied a pale blue wash to the sky before adding the clouds.
a + colour/material + wash (painting technique)
Ayana used a grey wash over the pencil drawing to give it an antique look.
A final wash of clean water over the watercolour painting softened all the edges.
- coat
thicker and more opaque; 'coat' suggests covering, not transparency
用法筆記
Domain-specific to watercolour painting. Collocates with colour words ('blue wash', 'grey wash') and 'watercolour wash'. Not used for opaque paint.
7. describes an outcome where positive and negative factors cancel one another out,
describes an outcome where positive and negative factors cancel one another out, producing no net gain or loss
We gained two new clients but lost one old one, so the quarter was a wash.
be a wash (neutral outcome)
The company spent extra on marketing but saved on rent, so the budget was a wash overall.
Gabriel won some money at poker but lost it at blackjack, so the night was a wash.
- win
a clear positive outcome, the opposite of a neutral result
文法句型
it is a wash
be a wash
用法筆記
Always used in the singular with the indefinite article: 'a wash'. Typically follows 'it is', 'it was', or 'it turned out to be'. The phrase implies no net gain or loss.
常見錯誤
8. the soft, continuous sound made by the sea as it moves against the shore, rocks,
the soft, continuous sound made by the sea as it moves against the shore, rocks, or a boat
Omar fell asleep to the gentle wash of the waves against the wooden pier.
the wash of + sea/waves
From the cottage window, they could hear the wash of the tide on the pebbles below.
The wash of the ocean against the hull of the boat was strangely calming.
文法句型
the wash of the sea/waves
用法筆記
Often preceded by 'the' and followed by 'of' + noun ('the wash of the waves'). Describes the sound rather than the movement of water. Frequently used in descriptive and literary writing.
wash — adjective
1. describing a fabric, item, or surface that can be cleaned with water without bei
describing a fabric, item, or surface that can be cleaned with water without being damaged
The label on the jacket says it is machine wash, so do not hand wash it.
machine wash — care-label shorthand for washable
Naoko checked the care label and saw the words 'machine wash', so she put the blanket straight into the machine.
The store sells only machine-wash school uniforms for busy families.
Walid bought a jacket that is machine wash, so he no longer needs to visit the dry cleaner.
- washable
the standard adjective form; 'wash' on labels is an abbreviated form
- dry-clean only
the opposite care instruction
用法筆記
This usage is most commonly seen on garment care labels or in product descriptions. It functions as a short form of 'washable', typical of clothing tags and care instructions.
wash — suffix
1. a suffix added to words describing qualities or causes, creating verbs that accu
a suffix added to words describing qualities or causes, creating verbs that accuse organisations of pretending to help or protect something while actually causing harm or doing nothing meaningful
Many companies greenwash their products by using eco-friendly labels without changing their production methods.
greenwash (environmental deception)
Critics accused the government of pinkwashing when it promoted LGBT-friendly policies while cutting social services.
The country was accused of sportswashing when it hosted a major tournament to distract from human rights issues.
Fashion brands that claim to be eco-friendly but still use harmful materials are simply greenwashing the public.
文法句型
-wash (forms verbs from adjectives and nouns)
用法筆記
A modern, productive suffix that creates new verbs by combining a value-laden word with '-wash'. Common formations: 'greenwash' (environment), 'pinkwash' (LGBT rights), 'sportswash' (image repair through sports). The '-wash' element draws from the idea of 'whitewash' (to cover up faults).