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v. laun·dered, laun·der·ing, laun·ders v.tr. 1. a. To wash (clothes, for example). b. To wash, fold, and iron: shirts that were neatly laundered by the hotel staff. 2. To make (illegally obtained money) appear lawfully obtained or legitimate, especially by transferring it through legitimate accounts or businesses. 3. To make more acceptable or presentable, sanitize: "The transcripts are, of course, laundered ... unidentified larger chunks of conversation are reported missing throughout" (Eliot Fremont-Smith). v.intr. 1. To undergo washing in a specified way: This material launders well. 2. To wash or prepare laundry. n. A trough or flume used in washing ore. [From Middle English launder, lavender, launderer, from Old French lavandier, from Vulgar Latin *lavandārius, from Latin lavandāria, things to be washed, from lavanda, neuter pl. gerundive of lavāre, to wash; see leu(ə)- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] launder·er n. |
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