5 VERB If a feeling washes over you, you suddenly feel it very strongly and cannot control it. [WRITTEN ] □ [V + over ] A wave of self-consciousness can wash over her when someone new enters the room.
6 VERB If you say that an excuse or idea will not wash , you mean that people will not accept or believe it. [INFORMAL ] □ [V ] He said her policies didn't work and the excuses didn't wash. □ [V + with ] If they believe that solution would wash with the Haitian people, they are making a dramatic error.
7 → see also washing
8 PHRASE If you say that something such as an item of clothing is in the wash , you mean that it is being washed, is waiting to be washed, or has just been washed and should therefore not be worn or used. [INFORMAL ] □ Your jeans are in the wash.
9 to wash your dirty linen in public → see dirty
10 to wash your hands of something → see hand ➊
▸ wash away PHRASAL VERB If rain or floods wash away something, they destroy it and carry it away. □ [V P n] Flood waters washed away one of the main bridges in Pusan. [Also V n P ]
▸ wash down
1 PHRASAL VERB If you wash something, especially food, down with a drink, you drink the drink after eating the food, especially to make the food easier to swallow or digest. □ [V n P ] He took two aspirin immediately and washed them down with three cups of water. [Also V P n]
2 PHRASAL VERB If you wash down an object, you wash it all, from top to bottom. □ [V P n] The prisoner started to wash down the walls of his cell. [Also V n P ]
▸ wash out
1 PHRASAL VERB If you wash out a container, you wash the inside of it. □ [V P n] It was my job to wash out the fish tank.
2 PHRASAL VERB If dye or dirt washes out , it can be removed by washing. □ [V P ] With permanent tints, the result won't wash out.
3 PHRASAL VERB If rain washes out a sports game or other event, it spoils it or prevents it from continuing. □ [V P n] Rain washed out five of the last seven games.
4 → see also washed-out , washout
▸ wash over PHRASAL VERB If something someone does or says washes over you, you do not notice it or it does not affect you in any way. □ [V P n] The television headlines seemed to wash over her without meaning anything.
▸ wash up
1 PHRASAL VERB If you wash up , you wash the plates, cups, cutlery, and pans which have been used for cooking and eating a meal. [BRIT ] □ [V P ] I ran some hot water and washed up. □ [V P n] I bet you make breakfast and wash up their plates, too. [Also V n P ] in AM, use wash the dishes 2 PHRASAL VERB If you wash up , you clean part of your body with soap and water, especially your hands and face. [AM ] □ [V P ] He headed to the bathroom to wash up. in BRIT, use wash 3 PHRASAL VERB [usu passive] If something is washed up on a piece of land, it is carried by a river or sea and left there. □ Thousands of herring and crab are washed up on the beaches during every storm. □ [V -ed P ] The fossils appear to be an early form of seaweed washed up on a beach.
4 → see also washed up , washing-up
wash|able /wɒ ʃəb ə l/ ADJ Washable clothes or materials can be washed in water without being damaged. □ Choose washable curtains.
wash|basin /wɒ ʃbe I s ə n/ (washbasins ) also wash basin N‑COUNT A washbasin is a large bowl, usually with taps for hot and cold water, for washing your hands and face. [mainly BRIT ] in AM, usually use sink
wash|cloth /wɒ ʃklɒθ, [AM ] -klɔːθ/ (washcloths ) N‑COUNT A washcloth is a small cloth that you use for washing yourself. [AM ] in BRIT, use flannel , facecloth
wa shed-ou t also washed out
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Washed-out colours are very pale. □ He stared at me out of those washed-out blue eyes.
2 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If someone looks washed-out , they look very tired and lacking in energy. □ She looked washed out and listless.
wa shed u p also washed-up ADJ If you say that someone is washed up , you mean that their career or success has ended. [INFORMAL ] □ He's all washed up, but he still yells at everyone.
wash|er /wɒ ʃə r / (washers )
1 N‑COUNT A washer is a thin flat ring of metal or rubber which is placed over a bolt before the nut is screwed on.
2 N‑COUNT A washer is the same as a washing machine . [INFORMAL ]
wash|ing /wɒ ʃ I ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT Washing is a collection of clothes, sheets, and other things which are waiting to be washed, are being washed, or have just been washed. □ …plastic bags full of dirty washing.
wa sh|ing line (washing lines ) N‑COUNT A washing line is a strong cord which you can hang wet clothes on while they dry.
wa sh|ing ma|chine (washing machines ) N‑COUNT A washing machine is a machine that you use to wash clothes in.
wa sh|ing pow|der (washing powders ) N‑VAR Washing powder is a powder that you use with water to wash clothes. [BRIT ] in AM, usually use soap powder , laundry detergent
wa shing-u p
1 N‑UNCOUNT To do the washing-up means to wash the plates, cups, cutlery, and pans which have been used for cooking and eating a meal. [BRIT ] □ Martha volunteered to do the washing-up. in AM, use wash the dishes 2 N‑UNCOUNT Washing-up is the plates, cups, cutlery, and pans which you have to wash after a meal. [BRIT ] □ …a brimming bowl of washing-up. in AM, use dirty dishes , the dishes