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to machine-wash

to machine-wash

2.1
Wash clothes in a washing machine rather than by hand
  • phrasal verb
  • /məˈʃin wɑʃ/
translation icon : lavar a máquina
  • Please machine-wash your towels.

Examples

  • These curtains are easy to machine-wash and require minimal care.

  • You can machine-wash that shirt.

  • Always check if a garment can be machine-washed before putting it in the laundry.

  • Do not machine-wash delicate silk fabrics, as they may get damaged.

  • Make sure to machine-wash your clothes on a gentle cycle to keep them in good condition.

  • It's important to machine-wash the sheets regularly to maintain hygiene.

  • You can machine-wash the towels using hot water for a thorough clean.

Synonyms

to launder
vsto machine-wash
10 3.0

To wash clothes and sheets with water and soap

specifies the washing is done by a machine rather than by hand
to machine wash
vsto machine-wash
1 1.3

Clean clothes in a washing machine instead of by hand

is the hyphenated compound form used for the same action
to water-wash
vsto machine-wash
2.7

To clean something using water to remove dirt or chemicals

applies only to clothes washed in a machine rather than rinsed by hand

Antonyms

5 2.8

Wash something with your hands instead of in a machine

How Washed

dry cleaning
45 2.5
to machine-wash
2.1
to hand-wash
5 2.8
rinse
8 1.0

Surface Forms

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

Morphology

machine-wash = machine + wash (transparent) = machine + wash

The meaning is directly derived from 'machine' + 'wash' indicating washing done by a machine, which is clear to learners.

Etymology

Machine-wash combines machine and wash. Machine is a 'device' that does work and wash means 'clean with water', so machine-wash means to clean clothes using a washing machine rather than 'by hand'.