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to water-wash

to water-wash

2.7
To clean something using water to remove dirt or chemicals
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : lavar con agua
  • She used a garden hose to water-wash the car before applying wax.

Examples

  • Every week, I water-wash my vegetables before cooking to ensure they're clean.

  • After a long hike, I decided to water-wash my muddy boots to remove the dirt.

  • If you think this is gross, a hot water wash and a little fabric softener will make them good as new.

    Blog text (4)
  • Now firstly, when I'm going to shower I will just let the water wash off the guard colour and it will reduce my tan quite a lot.

Synonyms

to wash
vsto water-wash
941 1.0

To clean something with water, often using soap

uses mostly water to clean or rinse without adding detergent
to flush
vsto water-wash
168 2.7

To clean something by running water through it

uses water to clean in many ways, not only by forcing liquid flow
to rinse
vsto water-wash
83 1.0

To wash something with water to remove soap or dirt

is used for cleaning with water at any stage
to cleanse
vsto water-wash
33 3.0

Remove dirt and germs from a person's body by washing

applies to cleaning objects broadly, not especially to human bodies
to wash off
vsto water-wash
31 1.0

To remove something from a surface by washing with water or soap

focuses on cleaning with water generally rather than only removing substances
to hose down
vsto water-wash
12 3.4

Spray water onto something with a long tube to clean or cool it

is any cleaning using water and not restricted to one spray method
to launder
vsto water-wash
10 3.0

To wash clothes and sheets with water and soap

is general water cleaning and not limited to fabrics or clothes
to rinse off
vsto water-wash
10 1.6

To wash something with water to remove soap or dirt

is broader, covering any cleaning action using water not only the final step
to hand-wash
vsto water-wash
5 2.8

Wash something with your hands instead of in a machine

refers to any water cleaning and not only to manual methods
to lave
vsto water-wash
  • Archaic
1 9.9

To wash someone or something gently with water

is general cleaning with water, not especially gentle or slow
to machine wash
vsto water-wash
1 1.3

Clean clothes in a washing machine instead of by hand

covers cleaning with water in general, not limited to machines or fabrics
to pressure-wash
vsto water-wash
1 3.9

To clean a surface with a strong stream of water to remove dirt

uses ordinary water flow and not a high pressure spray
to handwash
vsto water-wash
1 3.0

To wash clothes by hand instead of using a machine

is general cleaning with water, not restricted to hand methods
to suds
vsto water-wash
5.5

To wash something with soap and water to make bubbles

uses mainly water to clean or rinse without creating lather
to powerwash
vsto water-wash
4.5

To clean a surface using a strong spray of water to remove dirt or old paint

uses gentler water cleaning rather than intense high pressure spraying
to machine-wash
vsto water-wash
2.1

Wash clothes in a washing machine rather than by hand

refers broadly to cleaning with water, beyond appliance use

How Thorough

to scour
15 4.8
to scrub
55 1.0
to water-wash
2.7
to rinse
83 1.0

Surface Forms

water-wash infinitive
water-washed past participle
water-washing present participle
water-washes third person singular

Morphology

water-wash = water + wash (transparent) = water + wash

Meaning is directly composed from 'water' + 'wash' and clearly denotes washing with water.

Etymology

The word water-wash is made from water ('water') and wash ('to clean'), so it simply means to wash something with water. Think of a 'car-wash' or 'hand-wash' to remember it is cleaning or rinsing with water rather than soap or chemicals.