The act or process of cleaning something with water and usually soap or detergent. She gave her car a thorough wash to remove all the dirt and grime.
A quantity of clothes, linens, etc., that are washed or to be washed at one time. I have a large wash to do this weekend, including all the bed sheets and towels.
A thin layer of paint or other liquid spread on a surface. The artist applied a light wash of blue to the sky in the painting.
A stretch of shallow water, especially one that is periodically covered and uncovered by the tide. The children played in the wash, collecting shells and small crabs.
The flow of water or waves against a surface, often used to describe the backwash from a boat. The wash from the passing speedboat rocked the smaller vessels in the harbor.
A situation or result in which gains and losses cancel each other out, producing no net effect. After factoring in expenses, the project was basically a wash.