Word
Definition
n. a machine used for cleaning clothes or dishes. It can also mean a small, flat ring of metal or plastic used to make a bolt or screw fit more tightly.
n. a household appliance designed for laundering clothes or linens. Also refers to a thin, flat ring used in mechanical assemblies to distribute the load of a threaded fastener or prevent leakage.
Examples
“I need to put a load of towels in the washer.”
“The repairman replaced a worn rubber washer to stop the kitchen faucet from leaking.”
“While the industrial-sized washer handled the heavy linens, the technician inspected the plumbing assembly to ensure every metal washer was seated correctly against the valve housing.”
Examples
simple
“I need to put a load of towels in the washer.”
contextual
“The repairman replaced a worn rubber washer to stop the kitchen faucet from leaking.”
complex
“While the industrial-sized washer handled the heavy linens, the technician inspected the plumbing assembly to ensure every metal washer was seated correctly against the valve housing.”
Usage
Commonly used as a shorthand for 'washing machine' in North American English.
Etymology
From Middle English wasshere, wassher, equivalent to wash + -er. Cognate with Dutch wasser, German Wäscher.
Unclear. First recorded in the 14th century.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- A2 · Elementary
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/washer
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0