wipe
English meaning: Wipe
Definition
To wipe means to clean or dry something by rubbing it with a cloth or hand.
Example
“Please wipe the table after dinner.”
Another example: “She gently wiped away the child's tears with a tissue.”
Usage — When, Where & How
An everyday verb meaning to clean or dry by rubbing ('wipe the table', 'wipe your feet'). It can also mean to delete completely ('wipe the data'). Forms phrasal verbs like 'wipe out' (= destroy or exhaust). Casual register.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From Old English 'wipian' meaning to wipe.
Related Words
Common Collocations
- wipe away
- wipe out
- wipe clean
- wipe your feet
- wipe down
Word Forms
wipe (v); wiped; wipes; wiping
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B