dry cleaning

noun

1. the cleaning of garments, fabrics, draperies, etc., with any of various chemicals rather than water.

2. garments for cleaning in this way.

Other Word Forms

• dry-cleaning adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dry cleaning¹

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

Services available to tenants for a fee include personal training and private yoga instruction, dry cleaning pickup and delivery, car washing, dog walking, grocery delivery and housekeeping.

From Los Angeles Times

Other government-funded research has established a link between autism and another solvent, trichloroethylene, also known as TCE, which has been used for dry cleaning, manufacturing and degreasing machines.

From Salon

His parents ran a dry cleaning business on the corner of Manchester Avenue.

From Los Angeles Times

“That won’t even pay for The Mentor’s dry cleaning,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

The warehouse would be built on the site of a former dry cleaning business whose operations contaminated the property so extensively that the state’s Department of Toxic Substances Control is charged with monitoring the site.

From Los Angeles Times