dry cleaning

noun

1. the cleaning of garments, fabrics, draperies, etc., with any of various chemicals rather than water.
2. garments for cleaning in this way.

Other Words From

• dry-cleaning adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dry cleaning¹

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

She was born to Chinese immigrant parents in San Francisco, where the family lived behind their dry cleaning business.

From Los Angeles Times

Particulars: Yee, 66, was born to Chinese immigrant parents and grew up in San Francisco, where the family lived in a one-room apartment behind their dry cleaning business.

From Los Angeles Times

Sometimes you don’t even need safety pins, and after dry cleaning, it stays on still sticky.

From Los Angeles Times

“This contamination from the dry cleaning fluids is potentially much deeper, long-term and pervasive than what this investigation will establish,” said Michael Hayden, president of the Lincoln Heights Community Coalition.

From Los Angeles Times

The authors of the new study, who include Borghammer, argue that inhalation of certain pesticides, common dry cleaning chemicals, and air pollution predispose to a brain-first model of the disease.

From Science Daily