washer

[ wosh-er, waw-sher ]

noun

1. a person or thing that washes.
2. washing machine.
3. a flat ring or perforated piece of leather, rubber, metal, etc., used to give tightness to a joint, to prevent leakage, to distribute pressure, etc., as under the head of a nut or bolt.

washer

/ ˈwɒʃə /

noun

1. a person or thing that washes
2. a flat ring or drilled disc of metal used under the head of a bolt or nut to spread the load when tightened
3. any flat ring of rubber, felt, metal, etc, used to provide a seal under a nut or in a tap or valve seat
4. See washing machine
   See washing machine
5. chemical engineering a device for cleaning or washing gases or vapours; scrubber
6. a face cloth; flannel

Other Words From

• washer·less adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of washer¹

Middle English word dating back to 1275–1325; wash, -er ¹

Example Sentences

These fabric items can be easily rinsed out and thrown in the washer when doing a load of clothes.

From Washington Post

It’ll also help your washer work more effectively, as it’s not trying to process a huge amount of soil.

From Outside Online

I need prep people during the day and I could still use washers, among others.

From Time

Detaching the Yeti from its stand can send several small, easily lost washers in all directions, and those parts also make reattaching the Yeti to its stand somewhat of a hassle.

From Popular-Science

Of course, the city isn’t actively enforcing this, meaning drought cops don’t look for driveway washers to ticket.

From Voice of San Diego

A Manhattan window washer somehow survived a 47-story fall back in 2007, but such a miracle was not likely to repeat itself.

From The Daily Beast

She knew what hauling water was, and she liked her washer-drier.

From The Daily Beast

On Thursday, the LAPD arrested 22-year-old Samuel Arrington as he was attempting to torch a fuel tank on a pressure washer.

From The Daily Beast

Police later arrested 22-year-old Samuel Arrington as he was attempting to torch a fuel tank on a pressure washer.

From The Daily Beast

Our mothers their nurse-women, our sisters their scrub-women, our daughters their maid-women, and our wives their washer-women.

From Project Gutenberg

Although anmic, her general health is good, and she is able to do a full day's work as a washer-woman.

From Project Gutenberg

The crank is then run through the bearing hole and a nut run on the threads and a washer placed against the nut.

From Project Gutenberg

A few moments later I had completed my task as general bottle-washer, and I cast about for something to occupy me.

From Project Gutenberg

I worked as a dish-washer or pearl-diver for several weeks in Boston, and bought a very cheap second-hand suit.

From Project Gutenberg