To rinse means to wash something lightly with clean water to remove soap, dirt, or other substances. After you wash your hands with soap, you rinse them under running water to get all the suds off. When you help with dishes, you might rinse plates after scrubbing them to wash away the soap bubbles before they go in the dishwasher.

Rinsing is different from washing because it's gentler and quicker. You're not scrubbing or using soap during a rinse; you're just using clean water to carry something away. Dentists tell you to rinse your mouth with water after brushing. Swimmers rinse off after leaving a chlorinated pool. If you spill juice on your shirt, you might rinse it quickly under the faucet before the stain sets in.

The word can also describe the liquid used for rinsing. A mouth rinse (or mouthwash) is the minty liquid people swirl around their mouths. A hair rinse adds temporary color or shine to someone's hair.