# washing

/ˈwɑʃɪŋ/ (US) · /wˈɒʃɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/washing
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. laundry

noun · CEFR A2 · British English

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

For teachers: 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.

### 2. the act of cleaning

noun · CEFR A2

the process of cleaning something using water and often soap.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. market manipulation

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Formal

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

For teachers: 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.

### 4. mining process

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

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

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- I need to hang the washing out to dry.
- She spent the entire Saturday morning doing the washing and folding the clean clothes.
- The sudden afternoon rainstorm forced the neighbors to rush outside and rescue their washing from the line before it became soaked again.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.