from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Wash \Wash\ (w[o^]sh), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Washed}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Washing}.] [OE. waschen, AS. wascan; akin to D.
wasschen, G. waschen, OHG. wascan, Icel. & Sw. vaska, Dan.
vaske, and perhaps to E. water. [root]150.]
1. To cleanse by ablution, or dipping or rubbing in water; to
apply water or other liquid to for the purpose of
cleansing; to scrub with water, etc., or as with water;
as, to wash the hands or body; to wash garments; to wash
sheep or wool; to wash the pavement or floor; to wash the
bark of trees.
[1913 Webster]
When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, . . .
he took water and washed his hands before the
multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of
this just person. --Matt. xxvii.
24.
[1913 Webster]
2. To cover with water or any liquid; to wet; to fall on and
moisten; hence, to overflow or dash against; as, waves
wash the shore.
[1913 Webster]
Fresh-blown roses washed with dew. --Milton.
[1913 Webster]
[The landscape] washed with a cold, gray mist.
--Longfellow.
[1913 Webster]
3. To waste or abrade by the force of water in motion; as,
heavy rains wash a road or an embankment.
[1913 Webster]
4. To remove by washing to take away by, or as by, the action
of water; to drag or draw off as by the tide; -- often
with away, off, out, etc.; as, to wash dirt from the
hands.
[1913 Webster]
Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins.
--Acts xxii.
16.
[1913 Webster]
The tide will wash you off. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
5. To cover with a thin or watery coat of color; to tint
lightly and thinly.
[1913 Webster]
6. To overlay with a thin coat of metal; as, steel washed
with silver.
[1913 Webster]
7. To cause dephosphorisation of (molten pig iron) by adding
substances containing iron oxide, and sometimes manganese
oxide.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
8. To pass (a gas or gaseous mixture) through or over a
liquid for the purpose of purifying it, esp. by removing
soluble constituents.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
{To wash gold}, etc., to treat earth or gravel, or crushed
ore, with water, in order to separate the gold or other
metal, or metallic ore, through their higher density.
{To wash the hands of}. See under {Hand}.
[1913 Webster]