# wipe

/ˈwaɪp/ (US) · /wˈaɪp/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. to clean by rubbing

verb · CEFR A2

to clean or dry a surface by rubbing it with a cloth, a piece of paper, or your hand.

For teachers: to rub a surface with a cloth or similar object in order to remove dirt, liquid, or other substances. Transitive in this sense.

- Please wipe the table after you finish your lunch.
- The waiter quickly wiped the counter with a damp cloth before the next group of customers arrived for the dinner service.

### 2. to erase data

verb · CEFR B2

to remove all the information from a computer, phone, or hard drive.

For teachers: to delete all data from a storage medium, often as a security measure or during a system reset.

- You should wipe your phone's memory before you sell it to someone else.
- The IT department had to wipe the stolen laptop remotely to ensure that sensitive company information did not fall into the wrong hands.

### 3. gaming: team defeat

verb · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

when every member of a team or group dies at the same time in a video game.

For teachers: to suffer a total party defeat in a cooperative game or raid, resulting in all players being killed simultaneously. Often used intransitively.

- Our whole team wiped because the boss was much stronger than we expected.
- Despite our careful preparation, the group wiped during the final phase of the encounter due to a single mechanical error.

Usage: Often used as an intransitive verb in gaming contexts.

### 4. a cleaning tissue

noun · CEFR B1

a small, wet piece of cloth or paper used for cleaning things or your skin.

For teachers: a disposable, often pre-moistened piece of cloth or paper used for hygienic or cleaning purposes.

- She used a baby wipe to clean the chocolate off the child's face.
- The technician used an antiseptic wipe to sterilise the surface before beginning the delicate repair process.

### 5. the act of rubbing

noun · CEFR B1

the act of cleaning something by rubbing it once.

For teachers: a single act or instance of rubbing a surface to clean or dry it.

- Give the window a quick wipe to get rid of those fingerprints.
- A quick wipe with a microfibre cloth is usually enough to maintain the screen's clarity without needing harsh chemicals.

## Examples

- One mistake by the healer caused a total wipe.
- The team was doing well until the boss used its ultimate ability, leading to a frustrating wipe just before the finish.
- After hours of meticulous preparation, the unexpected server crash resulted in a data wipe that forced the developers to roll back the entire system to the previous day's backup.

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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.