wipe
UK: waɪp | US: waɪp
vt. to clean or dry by rubbing with a cloth, hand, or other object
vt. to remove or erase completely
n. an act of wiping or the material used for wiping
The word "wipe" originates from Old English wīpian, meaning "to rub lightly or cleanse." It shares roots with Old High German wīfan (to wind around) and possibly Latin vibrare (to shake or move rapidly). The core idea revolves around a swift, rubbing motion, which evolved into its modern meanings of cleaning or erasing.
She used a damp cloth to wipe the dust off the table.
The teacher wiped the whiteboard clean after the lesson.
The software can wipe all data from your hard drive permanently.
He wiped his sweaty forehead with the back of his hand.
A single mistake could wipe out years of hard work.