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 verb 1 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