wipe

[waɪp]

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wiping - wipe

To wipe something means to clean it with a cloth or other material, usually to remove dirt, water, or another substance that's covering it.

When we use the word 'wipe', it often happens in everyday situations. For example, you might be cleaning up after eating and grab some paper towels to wipe your hands before washing them under running water. You can also wipe a table or countertop with a cloth after someone spills something on it. Sometimes, people will even tell their kids to wipe down the toys after playtime so they don't get all dirty.

How common is "wipe"?

Word wipe is considered uncommon in modern English.
It appears most frequently in fiction texts and less often in other writings.

Definitions

noun

The act of wiping something.
Example: multiple wipes of a computer's hard disk
A soft piece of cloth or cloth-like material used for wiping.
A kind of film transition where one shot replaces another by travelling from one side of the frame to another or with a special shape.
A sarcastic remark; a reproof, a jibe.

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verb

To move an object over, maintaining contact, with the intention of removing some substance from the surface. (Compare rub.)
Example: I wiped the sweat from my brow with the back of my hand.
To remove by rubbing; to rub off; to obliterate; usually followed by away, off, or out.
To cheat; to defraud; to trick; usually followed by out.
To erase.
Example: I accidentally wiped my hard drive.
To make (a joint, as between pieces of lead pipe), by surrounding the junction with a mass of solder, applied in a plastic condition by means of a rag with which the solder is shaped by rubbing.
To remove an expression from one's face.
Example: You should wipe that smirk off your face before the boss comes in.
To deperm (a ship).