dry cleaningn.
/ˌdrʌɪ ˈkliːnɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈdraɪ ˌklinɪŋ/ 1. Originally: the action or process of cleaning something, esp. clothes or fabric, without immersing or soaking it in water. In later use usually: spec. the action or process of cleaning clothes, fabric, etc., using a chemical (typically organic or organochlorine) solvent rather than water. Frequently as a modifier.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > cleaning of clothes > [noun]
dry cleaning1778
1778 R. Hinde Discipline of Light-horse 559 Dry Cleaning. Take a Large Quantity of Bran and a Little Whiting, with about an Ounce of Powder Blue, [etc.].
1879 Christian Messenger 14 197 In summer floors should be scoured at least once a week... In damp weather dry cleaning is better than frequent wetting.
1897 Chambers's Jrnl. 25 Sept. 620/2 In this dry-cleaning process the goods were immersed in a vessel of benzine.
1930 Engineering 12 Dec. 760/1 The advantages which dry cleaning [of coal] had to offer, as compared with wetwashing, were essentially financial ones.
1962 I. Asimov Chemicals of Life (ed. 2) i. 17 Carbon can combine with hydrogen in various arrangements to form such substances as illuminating gas, gasoline, kerosene, dry-cleaning fluids, cigarette lighter fuel, asphalt, and vaseline.
2001 Art Room Catal. Autumn 54/2 Well-stuffed and upholstered in our millefleur cotton tapestry with cream braiding, the ottoman's cover unzips for dry-cleaning.
2021 Times of India (Nexis) 29 May When it comes to washing the saris, dry cleaning is the best option because detergents could ruin the material.
2. Garments or other items which are to be or have just been dry-cleaned.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > washing > washing clothes and textile articles > [noun] > clothes to be or that have been washed
buck1532
wash1789
snow1811
washing1843
wash-linen1901
laundry1916
dry cleaning1930
1930 Oakland (Calif.) Tribune 30 Nov. a14/5 (advt.) The housewife can now have one routeman calling on her for both the weekly laundry bundle and her dry cleaning.
1989 A. Stoddard Living beautifully Together (1991) i. 133 Have dinner warming in the oven or get the dry cleaning that he has not had the time to pick up.
2010 Cosmopolitan (U.K. ed.) Feb. 140/2 Always remove dry-cleaning from its bag to let it air.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2021).
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n.1778