English Reference

Word

washing

Phoneticswash·ing, stress on the first syllable

US/ˈwɑʃɪŋ/

UK/wˈɒʃɪŋ/

Definitions

01laundry

A2 · Elementary Uncountable noun British English

n. clothes, sheets, or towels that are being washed or need to be washed.

n. clothing, bedlinen, or other textiles that have been, are being, or are about to be laundered.

“I need to hang the washing out on the line before it starts to rain.”

“The heavy scent of detergent filled the air as she carried a basket of damp washing to the garden.”

Usage

Usually used as an uncountable noun.

Synonyms

02the act of cleaning

A2 · Elementary Uncountable noun

n. the process of cleaning something using water and often soap.

n. the action or process of cleaning something with water or another liquid.

“The car really needs a good washing after that long trip through the mud.”

“Regular washing of the hands is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of seasonal illnesses.”

03market manipulation

C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Law Technical · Formal

n. a dishonest way of trading stocks to make it look like there is more activity than there really is.

n. a fraudulent transaction where an investor simultaneously buys and sells the same financial instruments to create artificial market activity.

“The company was investigated for washing to trick other investors into buying their stock.”

“Regulators identified several instances of washing where the high volume of trades was merely a facade to manipulate the share price.”

Usage

Often referred to as 'wash trading' in modern financial contexts.

Synonyms

wash trading

04mining process

C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Science Technical

n. the process of separating valuable metals from dirt or rocks using water.

n. the process of separating precious metals or ores from lighter waste material by means of a liquid.

“The miners spent all day at the washing, hoping to find small bits of gold.”

“The efficiency of the ore washing determined the overall profitability of the mining operation during the dry season.”

Synonyms

panningsluicing

Etymology

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.

Word family

NOUN

washing(A2)

Domain

Finance

This entry

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
Common
Level
A2 · ElementaryOxford
Updated

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