Bucket washed out, we're told (4)
I believe the answer is:
pail
'bucket' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'washed out we're told' is the wordplay.
'washed out' becomes 'pale'.
'we're told' indicates a 'sounds like' (homophone) clue.
'pale' sounds like 'PAIL'.
(Other definitions for pail that I've seen before include "Kind of bucket - ask Jack and Jill" , "Water carrier" , "Vessel for carrying liquids" , "A bucket - the kind Jack and Jill used" , "Cylindrical vessel" .)