washing
- 01 A2 Elementary
clothes, sheets, or towels that are being washed or need to be washed.
clothing, bedlinen, or other textiles that have been, are being, or are about to be laundered.
Simple“I need to hang the washing out on the line before it starts to rain.”
In context“The heavy scent of detergent filled the air as she carried a basket of damp washing to the garden.”
UsageUsually used as an uncountable noun.
- 02 A2 Elementary
the process of cleaning something using water and often soap.
the action or process of cleaning something with water or another liquid.
Simple“The car really needs a good washing after that long trip through the mud.”
In context“Regular washing of the hands is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of seasonal illnesses.”
- 03 C2 Proficiency
a dishonest way of trading stocks to make it look like there is more activity than there really is.
a fraudulent transaction where an investor simultaneously buys and sells the same financial instruments to create artificial market activity.
Simple“The company was investigated for washing to trick other investors into buying their stock.”
In context“Regulators identified several instances of washing where the high volume of trades was merely a facade to manipulate the share price.”
UsageOften referred to as 'wash trading' in modern financial contexts.
Synonymswash trading - 04 C2 Proficiency
the process of separating valuable metals from dirt or rocks using water.
the process of separating precious metals or ores from lighter waste material by means of a liquid.
Simple“The miners spent all day at the washing, hoping to find small bits of gold.”
In context“The efficiency of the ore washing determined the overall profitability of the mining operation during the dry season.”
Synonymspanningsluicing
From Middle English waschynge, weschynge, from Old English weasċing, wæsċing (attested in weasċingweġ), from Proto-West Germanic *waskingu, equivalent to wash + -ing. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Waaskenge (“washing”), West Frisian wasking (“washing”), Dutch wassing (“washing”), German Waschung (“washing”).
From Middle English waschyng, wasschynge, wasschinge, wesschinge, wassende, from Old English wasċende, wæsċende, from Proto-West Germanic waskandī, from Proto-Germanic waskandz (“washing”), present participle of Proto-Germanic *waskaną (“to wash”), equivalent to wash + -ing. Cognate with Dutch wassend, German waschend, Swedish vaskande.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.