Main Entry:

¹wipe

Pronunciation:

\ˈwīp\

Function:

verb

Inflected Form(s):

wiped; wip·ing

Etymology:

Middle English wipen, from Old English wīpian; akin to Old High German wīfan to wind around, Latin vibrare to brandish, and probably to Old Norse veipa to be in movement, Sanskrit vepate it trembles

Date:

before 12th century

transitive verb1 a: to rub with or as if with something soft for cleaning b: to clean or dry by rubbing c: to draw, pass, or move for or as if for rubbing or cleaning <wiped his hand across his brow>2 a: to remove by or as if by rubbing <wipe the spots off the glass> b: to expunge completely <wipe from memory the gruesome scenes — American Guide Series: Delaware>3: to spread by or as if by wipingintransitive verb: to make a motion of or as if of wiping something

— wipe one's boots on

: to treat with indignity

— wipe the floor with or wipe the ground with

: to defeat decisively