washing

[ wosh-ing, waw-shing ]

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that washes; ablution.
2. clothes, linens, etc., washed or to be washed, especially those washed at one time; wash.
3. Often washings. any liquid that has been used to wash something.
4. matter removed or carried off in washing something or by the force of water:

   The washings from numerous spring floods had clogged the mouth of the river.

5. Mining.
   1. material, as gold dust, obtained by washing earth, gravel, etc.
   2. the deposits so washed.
6. Metalworking. wash ( def 46 ).
7. the act of making a wash sale.

washing

/ ˈwɒʃɪŋ /

noun

1. articles that have been or are to be washed together on a single occasion
2. liquid in which an article has been washed
3. something, such as gold dust or metal ore, that has been obtained by washing
4. a thin coat of something applied in liquid form

Word History and Origins

Origin of washing¹

First recorded in 1175–1225, washing is from the Middle English word wasschunge. See wash, -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Crowds of birdwatchers flocked to a quiet cul-de-sac after a rare sighting of a species perched on a garden washing line.

From BBC

Nyeda uses water from a borehole for washing and cooking, but needs money to buy drinking water.

From BBC

A former oil engineer, David Bojo Leju, has told the BBC that flooding in the area is washing pollution into water sources.

From BBC

All that was left of one home on Valley Vista Drive was a chimney and a burned washing machine.

From Los Angeles Times

The researchers said they had received unconfirmed reports of smaller but otherwise similar balls washing up over the past two years.

From BBC