wiper

noun wip·er \ ˈwī-pər \

|Updated on: 14 Jun 2018

Definition of wiper

1 : a person who wipes

2 a : something (such as a towel or sponge) used for wiping

b : a moving contact for making connections with the terminals of an electrical device (such as a rheostat)

c : a usually motor-driven arm with a flexible blade for wiping a window (such as the windshield of an automobile or airplane)

Recent Examples of wiper from the Web

Other anglers have reported catching whites and big wipers trolling around Walnut Creek, the south bluffs, and along the dam.

— tyler mahoney special to the star, kansascity, "Fishing report: Nineteen-pound channel cat caught at Wyandotte," 6 June 2018
Among standard exterior features are Intellibeam headlights, rain-sensing wipers, a 17-inch steel spare wheel/tire, and trailering equipment.

— g. chambers williams iii, Houston Chronicle, "2018 Suburban: SUVs looks great with Z71 Midnight Edition package," 30 Apr. 2018
Another firecracker was set off on April 13, police say, and someone super glued the woman's car door handle, windshield wipers and trunk latch that same day.

— josh magness, miamiherald, "Super glue, firecrackers, stolen light bulbs — and other ways he stalked his ex, cops say | Miami Herald," 11 May 2018
Hand tools and wiper blades were stolen from an unlocked vehicle.

— Washington Post, "Crime reports for Anne Arundel and Howard counties and for Annapolis," 9 May 2018
The size of the wiper is really what most affects the mascara experience.

— kathleen hou, The Cut, "What’s in Your Mascara?," 3 May 2018
There’s no rule of thumb for what type of wiper goes with which brush.

— kathleen hou, The Cut, "What’s in Your Mascara?," 3 May 2018
Among standard exterior features are Intellibeam headlights, rain-sensing wipers, a 17-inch steel spare wheel/tire, and trailering equipment.

— g. chambers williams iii, Houston Chronicle, "2018 Suburban: SUVs looks great with Z71 Midnight Edition package," 30 Apr. 2018
Ignition slot, turn signals, lights, windshield wiper, and a button on the dash that selects drive, neutral, or reverse.

— andrew moseman, Popular Mechanics, "All Glory to the Renault Twizy, the Greatest Electric Car in the World*," 19 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'wiper.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of wiper

1552

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

wiper

noun

Definition of wiper

plural wipers

: a hybrid striped bass that is a cross between a female striped bass (Morone saxatilis) and a male white bass (Morone chrysops) and is silvery-white with dark usually discontinuous or irregular horizontal stripes along the sides

Note: The wiper has an aggressive nature and is bred chiefly as a sport fish for stocking lakes, streams, and reservoirs.

White bass and striped bass have solid stripes on their bodies. The hybrid fish, also called wipers or whiterock bass, have broken horizontal stripes, grow larger than white bass and are more tolerant of warm water than stripers.
—D'Arcy Egan

While wipers are far from unpalatable, their flesh is of a coarser texture and tastes a little more "fishy" than crappie or walleye fillets.
—Steve Davis

— called also palmetto bass, whiterock bass; compare sunshine bass