catflap.org Online Dictionary Query

  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.
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              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.
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     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.
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              Fresh-blown roses washed with dew.    --Milton.
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              [The landscape] washed with a cold, gray mist.
                                                    --Longfellow.
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     3. To waste or abrade by the force of water in motion; as,
        heavy rains wash a road or an embankment.
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     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.
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              Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins.
                                                    --Acts xxii.
                                                    16.
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              The tide will wash you off.           --Shak.
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     5. To cover with a thin or watery coat of color; to tint
        lightly and thinly.
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     6. To overlay with a thin coat of metal; as, steel washed
        with silver.
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     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.
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     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.
  
              Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins.
                                                    --Acts xxii.
                                                    16.
  
              The tide will wash you off.           --Shak.
  
     5. To cover with a thin or watery coat of color; to tint
        lightly and thinly.
  
     6. To overlay with a thin coat of metal; as, steel washed
        with silver.
  
     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 superior gravity.
  
     To wash the hands of. See under Hand.