washing
gb/wˈɔʃɪŋ/ us/wˈɔʃɪŋ/
A2
English
mosás, szennyes, mosott ruha, mosási, mosó, átmosás
NOUN
A2
1
mosás
A2
Usage pattern:
the washing of [something]
After the hike, the boots needed a thorough washing.
A túra után a bakancsokat alaposan le kellett mosni.
Frequent washing can fade dark clothes over time.
A gyakori mosás idővel kifakíthatja a sötét ruhákat.
The label says the fabric can handle machine washing.
Learner examples
Washing your hands helps stop germs.
A kézmosás segít megakadályozni a kórokozók terjedését.
This jacket needs gentle washing.
Ez a dzseki kímélő mosást igényel.
Common mistake:
Learners often use "washing" where "wash" is more natural (e.g., "give it a wash").
Meaning
cleaning with water and soap
Collocations
hand-washing
|hair washing
|car washing
|washing hands
|washing process
|washing cycle
|regular washing
|thorough washing
|gentle washing
|daily washing
Synonyms
cleaning (Broader; not necessarily with water.)
|
wash (More common and shorter; often preferred in everyday speech.)
Antonyms
dirtying (Making something dirty rather than cleaning it.)
Themes
daily_life
|cleaning
|home
Definition
Cleaning something with water (often with soap).
The act or process of cleaning something using water, often with soap or detergent.
NOUN
A2
2
szennyes
A2
mosott ruha
A2
Usage pattern:
do the washing; put the washing out; bring the washing in
I’ve got a huge pile of washing to do this weekend.
Hatalmas halom szennyes vár rám ezen a hétvégén.
Can you bring the washing in before it starts raining?
Behoznád a kiteregetett ruhát, mielőtt elkezd esni?
The washing is still damp, so it needs more time to dry.
Learner examples
I need to do the washing today.
Ma ki kell mosnom a szennyest.
Please bring the washing inside.
Kérlek, hozd be a mosott ruhát.
Common mistake:
This meaning is usually used with "the" ("the washing").
Meaning
clothes that need washing
Collocations
do the washing
|put the washing out
|hang the washing out
|bring the washing in
|a pile of washing
|basket of washing
|wet washing
|damp washing
|fold the washing
|iron the washing
Synonyms
laundry (More common in American English and in general writing.)
Antonyms
clean clothes (Clothes that have already been washed.)
Themes
daily_life
|home
|clothing
|cleaning
Definition
Clothes that need to be washed.
Clothes and other items that are being washed or that need to be washed; laundry.
NOUN
B1
3
mosás
B1
Usage pattern:
do a washing; put on a washing
I put on a washing before I left for work.
Elindítottam egy mosást, mielőtt elindultam dolgozni.
That blanket is too big for one washing in this machine.
Az a takaró túl nagy ahhoz, hogy ebben a gépben egy mosással ki lehessen mosni.
It took two washings to get the grass stain out.
Learner examples
I will put on a washing now.
Most elindítok egy mosást.
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse "a washing" (one load) with "the washing" (all laundry to be washed).
Meaning
one load of laundry
Collocations
put on a washing
|do a washing
|a quick washing
|a full washing
|a small washing
|a hot washing
|a cold washing
|a delicate washing
|an extra washing
|two washings
Synonyms
load (Very common, especially with machines ("a load of laundry").)
Antonyms
dry load (Not a standard opposite; contrasts with clothes being washed.)
Themes
daily_life
|home
|cleaning
Definition
One load of clothes in the washing machine.
A single batch or load of clothes washed at one time.
B1
4
Usage pattern:
washing + [noun]
Check the washing instructions before you put it in the machine.
Nézd meg a mosási útmutatót, mielőtt beteszed a gépbe.
I need to buy washing powder on my way home.
Hazafelé mosóport kell vennem.
The washing symbols show whether it can be tumble-dried.
Learner examples
Read the washing instructions.
Olvasd el a mosási útmutatót.
Common mistake:
Many common combinations are fixed compounds (e.g., "washing machine"); don’t add extra words unnecessarily.
Meaning
related to washing clothes
Collocations
washing powder
|washing detergent
|washing instructions
|washing basket
|washing bag
|washing cycle
|washing water
|washing temperature
|washing program
|washing symbol
Synonyms
laundry (Often used in compounds too (e.g., "laundry basket"), especially in American English.)
Antonyms
dry (Opposes washing when talking about cleaning methods (e.g., dry cleaning vs washing).)
Themes
daily_life
|home
|cleaning
Definition
Used to describe things for washing (especially clothes).
Used before a noun to describe something connected with washing, especially washing clothes.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
5
Usage pattern:
washing of [substance]; washing with [liquid]
After filtration, the washing of the solid helps remove remaining salts.
Szűrés után a szilárd anyag mosása segít eltávolítani a megmaradt sókat.
Repeated washing with cold water reduced the bitterness.
A hideg vízzel végzett többszöri átmosás csökkentette a keserűséget.
The protocol includes a final washing step before drying.
Meaning
rinsing to remove impurities
Collocations
washing step
|washing procedure
|washing with water
|washing with solvent
|washings
|repeated washing
|thorough washing
|final washing
Synonyms
rinsing (Emphasizes water flowing over; may not imply removal of impurities in a procedure.)
Antonyms
contamination (The presence or introduction of unwanted material rather than its removal.)
Themes
science
|technical
Definition
In science, rinsing something to remove impurities.
In technical or lab contexts, the process of rinsing a substance with liquid to remove unwanted material from its surface or from a mixture.
Grammar
Dictionary form
washing
IPA
GB/wˈɔʃɪŋ/
US/wˈɔʃɪŋ/
Syllables & stress
wash - ing (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (wash)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: washing
- Plural: washing, washings
Expressions
air your dirty washing in public
1/ˈɛɹ jˈʊɹ dˈɚti wˈɔʃɪŋ ˈɪn pˈʌblɪk/
idiom
share private problems publicly
To talk about private problems where everyone can hear.
Examples
- They’re always airing their dirty washing in public on social media.
- I don’t want to air our dirty washing in public—let’s discuss this privately.
- The interview turned into an awkward moment of dirty-washing-in-public.
do the washing
1/dˈu ðə wˈɔʃɪŋ/
fixed phrase
wash clothes and laundry
To wash your clothes.
Examples
- I usually do the washing on Saturdays.
- Can you do the washing while I cook dinner?
- He did the washing and hung everything outside to dry.
Learner examples
- I do the washing on Sunday.
hang out the washing
1/hˈæŋ ˈaʊt ðə wˈɔʃɪŋ/
fixed phrase
put wet clothes to dry
To put wet clothes on a line to dry.
Examples
- It’s sunny, so I’m going to hang out the washing.
- She hung out the washing before she left the house.
- Don’t hang out the washing if it looks like rain.
Learner examples
- I hang out the washing in the garden.
wash your hands of [something/someone]
1/wˈɔʃ jˈʊɹ hˈændz əv səmˈɛθɪŋsˈoʊmˈoʊn/
idiom
refuse responsibility for something
To say you are no longer responsible.
Examples
- After months of arguments, she washed her hands of the project.
- The company tried to wash its hands of the problem.
- He washed his hands of the whole affair and walked away.
washing line
1/wˈɔʃɪŋ lˈaɪn/
fixed phrase
line for drying clothes
A line used to dry clothes outside.
Examples
- She pegged the sheets onto the washing line.
- The washing line snapped in the strong wind.
- If it stays sunny, the towels will dry quickly on the washing line.
Learner examples
- I hang my clothes on the washing line.
washing machine
1/wˈɔʃɪŋ məʃˈin/
fixed phrase
machine that washes clothes
A machine for washing clothes.
Examples
- The washing machine is leaking water onto the floor.
- I left my keys in my pocket and put them in the washing machine by mistake.
- We need a new washing machine because this one doesn’t spin properly.
Learner examples
- My washing machine is very old.
washing up
1/wˈɔʃɪŋ ˈʌp/
fixed phrase
washing dishes after eating
Washing the dishes.
Examples
- I’ll do the washing up if you dry and put everything away.
- There’s a lot of washing up after a dinner party.
- He hates washing up, so he bought a dishwasher.
Learner examples
- I will do the washing up.
washing-up liquid
1/wˈɔʃɪŋ ˈʌp lˈɪkwɪd/
fixed phrase
liquid soap for dishes
Liquid soap for washing dishes.
Examples
- We’re out of washing-up liquid, so the plates will have to wait.
- Add a few drops of washing-up liquid to the bowl.
- This washing-up liquid is gentle on your hands.
Learner examples
- I bought washing-up liquid.