washout

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The word "washout" can have a few different meanings, and I’ll explain them all clearly.

Basic Definition:

1. In a general sense: A "washout" can refer to something that is unsuccessful or fails completely. For example, if someone tries to start a project and it doesn’t work out at all, you could say it was a washout.

2. In nature: A "washout" can also refer to the process of water washing away soil or gravel. This often happens after heavy rain or storms when the ground is eroded, creating a gap or a hole.

Usage Instructions:

• You can use "washout" when talking about failures in projects, events, or any plans that didn’t go as expected.
• In a more physical context, use "washout" to describe erosion or damage caused by water.

Examples:

1. Failure Context: "The picnic was a washout because it rained the whole day."
2. Erosion Context: "After the heavy rain, there was a washout on the road that made it impassable."

Advanced Usage:

• In a more technical or environmental discussion, you might hear "washout" used to discuss issues in land management or civil engineering, relating to how water can damage roads or buildings.

Word Variants:

• Washout (noun): Refers to the failure or the erosion itself.
• Wash out (phrasal verb): To erase or remove something, often used to describe washing away colors in clothing.

Different Meanings:

1. Failure: "The concert was a washout due to low ticket sales."
2. Erosion: "The city had to repair the washout on the highway after the storm."

Synonyms:

• For failure: flop, failure, disaster.
• For erosion: erosion, landslide.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• "Wash out": As a phrasal verb, it means to remove something by washing. For example, "I need to wash out the stains from my shirt."

Conclusion:

"Washout" can refer to both an unsuccessful event or the physical process of erosion.

Academic

Noun

1. someone who is unsuccessful
2. the erosive process of washing away soil or gravel by water (as from a roadway)
   • from the house they watched the washout of their newly seeded lawn by the water
3. the channel or break produced by erosion of relatively soft soil by water
   • it was several days after the storm before they could repair the washout and open the road

Synonyms

• flop
• dud
• wash