- a sucking movement of water, such as that of retreating waves
Compare swash - water washed backwards by the motion of oars or other propelling devices
- the backward flow of air set up by an aircraft's engines
- a condition resulting from a previous event; repercussion
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
back•wash
(bak′wosh′, -wôsh′),USA pronunciation n.
v.t.
back′wash′er, n.
- Nautical, Naval Termswater thrown backward by the motion of oars, propellers, paddle wheels, etc.
- Aeronauticsthe portion of the wash of an aircraft that flows to the rear, usually created by the power plant. Cf. wash (def. 35).
- a condition, usually undesirable, that continues long after the event which caused it.
v.t.
- to affect, as by hitting, rocking, or splashing, with a backwash:a powerful cutter backwashing the skiers.
- Buildingto clean out (a clogged filter) by reversing the flow of fluid:Backwash the swimming pool's filters regularly.
- back2 + wash 1765–75
- 3. aftermath, consequence, result, upshot.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
backwash /ˈbækˌwɒʃ/ n
'backwash' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):