Wipe

/waɪp/

Meaning & Definition

noun

an act of cleaning or drying by rubbing a surface.

Give the countertop a quick wipe before preparing the food.

a piece of cloth or tissue used for cleaning or wiping.

I always keep some wipes in my bag for quick clean-ups.

verb

to rub a surface with a cloth, one's hand, or another object in order to remove dirt, moisture, or unwanted material.

She used a paper towel to wipe the spilled juice off the table.

to remove something from a surface or a place by rubbing it away.

He wiped the chalkboard clean after the lesson.

to erase data or information from a digital device.

Before selling the laptop, he made sure to wipe all the personal data.

Middle English 'wipen', from Old English 'wīpan', meaning to move swiftly.

wipe the slate clean

To start fresh, to erase past mistakes.

wipe out

To completely eliminate or destroy.

wipe the floor with someone

To defeat someone easily or decisively.

wipe away

To remove something by rubbing, often tears or dust.

clean

To make something free of dirt or marks.

erase

To remove writing or marks from a surface.

scrub

To clean something thoroughly by rubbing it hard.

To fail miserably.

I really wiped on that exam.

To heavily defeat someone in competition.

We wiped them in the first round.