[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/washer/)

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# washer

noun (a washer, washers)

«washer» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A small flat ring of metal, rubber or plastic put under a nut or a screw, or inside a tap, to make it tight or stop leaks. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/washer/#m1)
2. (informal) A washing machine, or a dishwasher. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/washer/#m2)
3. A person who washes things, as in "window washer" or "car washer". [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/washer/#m3)
4. (Australia, New Zealand) A small square cloth for washing your face, called a flannel in the UK and a washcloth in the USA. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/washer/#m4)

### In the lessons

In design and technology lessons, washers spread the pressure of a nut or a bolt and stop it from loosening. A dripping tap often needs a new rubber washer. In everyday chat, people say "put it in the washer". In Australia, "grab a washer" means a face cloth. Phrases: "a rubber washer", "the washer and dryer", "window washer".

### Examples

- Dad fixed the dripping tap by changing the washer. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/washer/#x1)
- Put a washer under the nut before you tighten it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/washer/#x2)
- My muddy football kit went straight into the washer. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/washer/#x3)
- The window washer cleaned the shop windows. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/washer/#x4)
- In Australia, Mum handed me a washer to wipe my face. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/washer/#x5)
- The kit came with ten screws and ten washers. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/washer/#x6)
- He was the son of the royal plate-washer. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/washer/#x7)

### Note

Countable: a washer, washers. In Australia and New Zealand "washer" is the face cloth; in the UK "flannel"; in the USA "washcloth". Not the same as "washing" (the clothes to be washed).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «washer» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/washer/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«washer» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/washer.html) on Mova free.