washing

Everyday

1. Washing is cleaning something with water, often with soap. tree →
2. Washing (UK, Australia, NZ, Ireland) means the clothes that need washing or have just been washed: «hang out the washing». tree →
3. As part of the verb, washing means cleaning now: «I am washing my hands». tree →

In the lessons

In hygiene and health, washing hands with soap for about 20 seconds removes germs, especially before eating and after the toilet. In the home, children help «do the washing», «hang out the washing» and «do the washing-up» (UK: wash the dishes). Phrases: «washing machine», «washing line», «washing-up liquid», «washing powder».

Examples

• Washing your hands stops germs spreading. tree →
• Mum is hanging the washing on the line. tree →
• Put your dirty socks in the washing basket. tree →
• I am washing the car with Dad. tree →
• It's my turn to do the washing-up. tree →
• The washing machine is very noisy. tree →
• Bring the washing in — it's raining! tree →
• We were washing paint off our brushes. tree →
• Aunt Em was washing the dishes. tree →

Note

As «the clothes», washing is uncountable: «a lot of washing», not «washings». In the US, people usually say «laundry» for the clothes and «doing the dishes» for washing-up. Spelling: wash + ing, no extra letters.

In Jewish tradition

In Leviticus, the washing of a garment that has a plague, to see if it has changed. In the Song of Songs, sheep "come up from the washing" is a picture of clean, matched, white teeth.

Interpretation. The washing tests whether the mark fades. If it does not, the cloth must be burned. The Song of Songs is read by tradition as a love song between God and Israel.

Examples

• And if the priest look, and, behold, the plague be dim after the washing thereof, then he shall rend it out of the garment, or out of the skin, or out of the warp, or out of the woof. (Torah LEV.13.56, JPS 1917) tree →
• Thy teeth are like a flock of ewes, which are come up from the washing; whereof all are paired, and none faileth among them. (Writings SNG.6.6, JPS 1917) tree →
• Thy teeth are like a flock of ewes all shaped alike, which are come up from the washing; whereof all are paired, and none faileth among them. (Writings SNG.4.2, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

As «the clothes», washing is uncountable: «a lot of washing», not «washings». In the US, people usually say «laundry» for the clothes and «doing the dishes» for washing-up. Spelling: wash + ing, no extra letters.