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.

To fail miserably.

I really wiped on that exam.

To heavily defeat someone in competition.

We wiped them in the first round.