wipe away
Definition
- Verb:
- To remove by wiping: To eliminate or clear something, typically a liquid or a mark, by using a wiping motion with a cloth, hand, or other object.
Usage
- This verb is transitive and requires a direct object (the thing being removed). It is often used with substances like tears, sweat, dirt, or marks.
- The typical structure is: Subject + wipe away + Object.
Examples
- Verb:
- She used a tissue to wipe away her tears.
- The janitor wiped away the graffiti from the wall.
- He wiped away the condensation from the mirror.
Advanced Usage
- Emotional or Abstract Removal: While typically physical, "wipe away" can be used metaphorically to suggest removing non-physical things like worries or memories.
- Time helped wipe away the pain of the loss.
- The apology seemed to wipe away all his anger.
Variants and Related Words
- Wipe off (phrasal verb): Often interchangeable with "wipe away," especially for removing substances from a surface.
- Please wipe off the mud from your boots.
- Wipe (verb): The base form, meaning to clean or dry by rubbing with a cloth, hand, etc.
- Wiper (noun): A device or person that wipes (e.g., windshield wipers).
Synonyms
- Erase: To remove marks or writing.
- Clean off: To remove dirt or marks, making something clean.
- Blot: To dry or clean by pressing with an absorbent material.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Wipe out: To destroy completely or erase.
- The epidemic wiped out half the population.
- Wipe up: To clean a liquid spill by wiping.
- Could you wipe up the coffee you spilled?
- Wipe down: To clean the surface of something thoroughly by wiping.
- She wiped down the kitchen counters.
Related Idioms
- Wipe the slate clean: To forget past mistakes or arguments and start again.
- After our fight, we decided to wipe the slate clean and be friends again.
Verb
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remove by wiping
