noun

wiper

WYP

Wiper (noun) means a device, especially on a vehicle windscreen, that moves back and forth to clear away rain or dirt. Example: “Turn on the wipers, it's starting to rain.”

noun

A device, especially on a vehicle windscreen, that moves back and forth to clear away rain or dirt.

"Turn on the wipers, it's starting to rain."

A cloth or similar item used for wiping.

"He kept an oily wiper in his back pocket at the garage."

Someone who wipes or cleans, especially a junior crew member in a ship's engine room.

"He started his career as a wiper before working up to engineer."

How to use wiper

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMost commonly the mechanical blade that clears a windscreen, though it can also mean any person or cloth that wipes.

Common pairings

windscreen wiper wiper blades turn on the wipers

Word forms

wipers plural, wipers plural

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Turn on the _____, it's starting to rain.

Etymology

From wipe plus the agent suffix -er.

Synonyms

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wiper arm contact arm wiper blade windshield wiper windscreen wiper

Rhymes for wiper

viper piper sniper juniper

See all rhymes for wiper →

Frequently asked questions

What does “wiper” mean?

The word “wiper” means a device, especially on a vehicle windscreen, that moves back and forth to clear away rain or dirt. In plain terms, most commonly the mechanical blade that clears a windscreen, though it can also mean any person or cloth that wipes.

How do you pronounce “wiper”?

“Wiper” is pronounced WYP (/ˈwaɪpɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “wiper” in a sentence?

Here is “wiper” used in a sentence: “Turn on the wipers, it's starting to rain.”

What part of speech is “wiper”?

“Wiper” is a noun.

How many meanings does “wiper” have?

“Wiper” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a device, especially on a vehicle windscreen, that moves back and forth to clear away rain or dirt.