dry cleaning

dry cleaning

noun

Definition of DRY CLEANING

1

: the cleansing of fabrics with substantially nonaqueous organic solvents

2

: something that is dry-cleaned

Examples of DRY CLEANING

1. I can pick up the dry cleaning on my way home.

First Known Use of DRY CLEANING

1855

Rhymes with DRY CLEANING

housecleaning, spring-cleaning, sunscreening, unmeaning, well-meaning

dry cleaning

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

System of cleaning textiles with chemical solvents instead of water. The chemicals, often halides or organohalogens (compounds that contain halogen atoms bonded to carbon atoms), dissolve dirt and grease from fabrics. Carbon tetrachloride was once widely used as a dry-cleaning liquid, but its adverse health effects have cut back its use; other organic halogen compounds are now preferred, particularly tetrachloroethylene, which is much more stable and less toxic.