Prewash

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. A separate cleaning step given to soiled clothing before the main wash ; a short initial cycle in a washing machine that runs ahead of the principal laundering stage
2. Pre-treatment of garments by soaking or scrubbing them before the regular wash ; the preliminary cycle of a washing machine that occurs before the main load is cleaned
3. Loosening stains or dirt on fabric through an early treatment before normal laundering ; an introductory wash stage that a machine completes ahead of the primary cycle

Etymology: "Prewash" is a plain compound: the prefix "pre-", meaning "before", attached to "wash." The prefix comes from Latin "prae", "before," which reached English through Middle English, while "wash" is an inherited Germanic word that goes back through Old English "wascan" to a Proto-Germanic root. Put together, the word names the wash that happens before the main one. The sense of "pre-" in a laundry or dishwashing context is what makes the word useful. A prewash is typically a short, separate cycle run before the main wash, aimed at loosening dirt and stains so the main cycle can work more effectively. Appliance makers use the term to name a setting on the machine, which is where most people now encounter it.

Synonyms: presoak, prerinse