washing

washing — noun

1. the task of cleaning clothing, sheets, towels, and other fabric items using wate

1.名詞A2
釋義

the task of cleaning clothing, sheets, towels, and other fabric items using water and soap or detergent, often in a washing machine or by hand

例句

Manuela does the washing every Sunday morning before breakfast.

collocation: do the washing

Bao saved energy by doing his washing with cold water rather than hot.

collocation: do [possessive] washing

同義詞
  • laundry

    The standard term in American English; in British English 'laundry' can mean the items themselves or the room where washing is done

  • wash

    Less common as a noun for this sense; usually 'a wash' refers to one session of washing

  • cleaning

    Much broader in meaning — includes all types of cleaning, not just fabric items

文法句型

do + the + washing

washing + noun (washing machine, washing powder)

用法筆記

In American English, the word 'laundry' is more common than 'washing' for this sense. The phrase 'do the washing' is especially common in British English.

常見錯誤

❌I need to do the washing of my car.
✅I need to wash my car.
💡'washing' as a noun refers only to cleaning fabric items, not vehicles, dishes, or other objects.
❌I did a washing yesterday.
✅I did the washing yesterday.
💡'washing' is uncountable and does not take the indefinite article 'a'.

2. items of clothing and household fabric that a person still needs to put in the m

2.名詞A2
釋義

items of clothing and household fabric that a person still needs to put in the machine, is currently cleaning, or has taken out of the machine for drying or ironing

例句

Hari hung the washing on the line to dry in the summer sun.

collocation: hang the washing

Iris brought the dry washing inside before the evening dew settled on it.

同義詞
  • laundry

    The dominant term in American English for items to be washed; largely interchangeable in British English too

  • wash load

    Refers specifically to one batch of items being washed together, not to items already washed or waiting to be washed

文法句型

pile/load/basket + of + washing

the + washing + verb (hanging, drying)

用法筆記

Always uncountable — you cannot say 'a washing' to mean a single item. Use 'an item of washing' or 'a piece of washing' for individual articles. This sense corresponds to American English 'laundry'.

常見錯誤

❌Can you bring in the washings?
✅Can you bring in the washing?
💡'washing' is always singular and uncountable, even when referring to many items.
❌I have three washings to fold.
✅I have three loads of washing to fold.
💡Use 'load of washing' or 'pile of washing' to quantify it.

washing — suffix