washout UK /ˈwɒʃaʊt/US /ˈwɔʃˌaʊt/noun 15forms 1 noun15 •the act of sending water or another liquid through something such as a pipe, a tank or a part of the body to clean the inside of itIn recent months, as we have already reported, boiler washouts of Stratford's "Britannia" Pacifics have been carried out at Norwich, owing to the better staff situation at the latter shed, […] — 1959 •A trainee who drops out of a training programme. •(slang) A sporting fixture or other event that cannot be completed because of rain.The Austin picnic was a washout, rained all day. — 1939 •(slang) something or someone that fails completely and is a great disappointment"I thought you was goin' into the business yourself." / "That's a wash-out," snarled Silas. "Don't you talk of it. It's finished." — 1925 •(slang) An unsuccessful person.As an actor he was a complete washout, so he went back to accounting. •The erosion of a relatively soft surface by a sudden gush of water; also, a channel produced by this action. •A breach in a railway or road caused by flooding. •A place in a mine where ore has been washed away by a flow of water. •The cleaning of matter from a physiological system using a fluid; also, the fluid used for such cleaning; or the matter cleaned out from the system. •the process in which falling rain removes dust, smoke and other tiny particles from the air •(slang) An overwhelming victory; a landslide.Illawarra turns blue in Liberal washout [title] — 2011 •a period between two medical treatments, long enough for the body to get rid of the first drug before the second one begins •a small twist built into an aircraft wing so that the outer end meets the air at a lower angle than the inner end, helping to keep the plane under control at low speeds •a valve or other device that lets water run fast through a pipe or tank to clean dirt from inside itThe cistern was fitted with washouts and air-valves. •(UK) A destroyed aeroplane. formswashouts
