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Glite Dictionary
🌊 Backward water flow 🔄 Lingering effects 🧹 To clean by reversing ↩️ To flow backward
to backwash

to backwash

6.5
To clean a filter by making water flow backward to remove dirt
  • verb
  • /ˈbækˌwɑʃ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : retrolavar
  • The instructions recommend that you backwash the system every few weeks to prevent clogs and maintain water quality.

Examples

  • After inspecting the pool, the technician decided to backwash the filter to remove the buildup of dirt.

  • This 5.4 hours of increased filter run reduces the amount of water required for backwashing the filter and, therefore, the backwash water cost, as shown below.

    Academic text (1998)

  • Can it be successfully backwashed, or must it be removed for cleaning?

    Academic text (1996)

  • Triangular cross-section wedgewire is easier to backwash.

    Academic text (1996)

  • To ensure optimal performance, you should backwash the sand filter when the pressure gauge indicates a level that is too high.

Synonyms

to flush
vsto backwash
168 2.7

To clean something by running water through it

reverses flow specifically to clean filters and remove internal buildup
to rinse
vsto backwash
83 1.0

To wash something with water to remove soap or dirt

uses reverse flow in systems to dislodge trapped debris
to rinse off
vsto backwash
10 1.6

To wash something with water to remove soap or dirt

applies reverse flow inside filters rather than final surface washing

Antonyms

clog
8 3.5

An object that blocks a pipe or passage and stops flow

How Thorough

to purge
49 6.3
to scour
15 4.8
to backwash
  • Specialized
6.5
to flush
168 2.7
rinse
8 1.0

Surface Forms

backwash infinitive
backwashed past
backwashed past participle
backwashing present participle
backwashes third person singular

Morphology

backwash = back + wash (transparent) = back + wash

The verb sense 'to wash by reversing flow' is a direct verbalisation of the compound concept 'back' + 'wash'.

Etymology

Backwash comes from back ('behind') and wash ('clean with water'). It describes washing by moving water the other way to push out dirt, so to backwash a filter is to reverse the flow and remove the dirt.