Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Wash \Wash\ (w[o^]sh), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Washed} (w[o^]sht);
   p. pr. & vb. n. {Washing}.] [OE. waschen, AS. wascan; akin to
   D. wasschen, G. waschen, OHG. wascan, Icel. & Sw. vaska, Dan.
   vaske, and perhaps to E. water. [root]150.]
   1. To cleanse by ablution, or dipping or rubbing in water; to
      apply water or other liquid to for the purpose of
      cleansing; to scrub with water, etc., or as with water;
      as, to wash the hands or body; to wash garments; to wash
      sheep or wool; to wash the pavement or floor; to wash the
      bark of trees.

            When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, . . .
            he took water and washed his hands before the
            multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of
            this just person.                     --Matt. xxvii.
                                                  24.

   2. To cover with water or any liquid; to wet; to fall on and
      moisten; hence, to overflow or dash against; as, waves
      wash the shore.

            Fresh-blown roses washed with dew.    --Milton.

            [The landscape] washed with a cold, gray mist.
                                                  --Longfellow.

   3. To waste or abrade by the force of water in motion; as,
      heavy rains wash a road or an embankment.

Washing \Wash"ing\, n.
   1. The act of one who washes; the act of cleansing with
      water; ablution.

   2. The clothes washed, esp. at one time; a wash.

   {Washing bear} (Zo["o]l.), the raccoon.

   {Washing bottle} (Chem.), a bottle fitted with glass tubes
      passing through the cork, so that on blowing into one of
      the tubes a stream of water issuing from the other may be
      directed upon anything to be washed or rinsed, as a
      precipitate upon a filter, etc.

   {Washing fluid}, a liquid used as a cleanser, and consisting
      usually of alkaline salts resembling soaps in their
      action.

   {Washing machine}, a machine for washing; specifically, a
      machine for washing clothes.

   {Washing soda}. (Chem.) See {Sodium carbonate}, under
      {Sodium}.

   {Washing stuff}, any earthy deposit containing gold enough to
      pay for washing it; -- so called among gold miners.

Washing \Wash"ing\, n.
   1. (Mining) Gold dust procured by washing; also, a place
      where this is done; a washery.

   2. A thin covering or coat; as, a washing of silver.

   3. (Stock Exchanges) The operation of simultaneously buying
      and selling the same stock for the purpose of manipulating
      the market. The transaction is fictitious, and is
      prohibited by stock-exchange rules.

   4. (Pottery) The covering of a piece with an infusible
      powder, which prevents it from sticking to its supports,
      while receiving the glaze.

Source : WordNet®

washing
     n 1: the work of cleansing (usually with soap and water) [syn: {wash},
           {lavation}]
     2: garments or white goods that can be cleaned by laundering
        [syn: {laundry}, {wash}, {washables}]