Log in or Sign up
  1. lavatory love

Definitions

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

  1. n. A room equipped with washing and often toilet facilities; a bathroom.
  2. n. A washbowl or basin, especially one permanently installed with running water.
  3. n. A flush toilet.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

  1. Washing, or cleansing by washing.
  2. n. A room or place for washing, or where anything is washed.
  3. n. A sort of concave stone table upon which, in the middle ages, dead bodies were washed before burial, in monasteries, hospitals, and elsewhere.
  4. n. In medicine, a wash or lotion for a diseased part.
  5. n. The ceremonial washing of the hands of the priest in the celebration of the holy communion.
  6. n. In plumbing, a permanent wash-bowl of marble, enameled iron, or porcelain, fitted with hot and cold-water pipes, a waste-pipe, and other conveniences and fixtures. It may be affixed to a wall or stand upon the floor.
  7. n. A room, especially in a hotel or public building, provided with means for washing the hands and face, and often including a water-closet.

Wiktionary

  1. n. A bathroom; a washroom; a room containing a toilet.
  2. n. A facility for washing hands; a basin.
  3. n. UK A toilet, a water closet.

GNU Webster's 1913

  1. adj. Washing, or cleansing by washing.
  2. n. A place for washing.
  3. n. A basin or other vessel for washing in.
  4. n. A wash or lotion for a diseased part.
  5. n. A place where gold is obtained by washing.
  6. n. A room containing one or more sinks for washing, as well as one or more toilet fixtures; also called bathroom, toilet, and sometimes commode. Commode and toilet may refer to a room with only a toilet fixture, but without a sink.

WordNet 3.0

  1. n. a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
  2. n. a toilet that is cleaned of waste by the flow of water through it
  3. n. a bathroom sink that is permanently installed and connected to a water supply and drainpipe; where you can wash your hands and face

Etymologies

  1. From Latin as if *lavatorius, from Late Latin lavator ("a clothes washer"), from lavō ("wash"); see lave. (Wiktionary)
  2. Middle English, piscina, from Late Latin lavātōrium, from lavātor, launderer, from Latin lavāre, to wash; see leu(ə)- in Indo-European roots. (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)

Examples

Show 10 more examples...

Log in or sign up to add your own related words.

synonyms (7)

Words with the same meaning

  1. toilet
  1. can
  1. facility
  1. john
  1. privy
  1. bathroom
  1. bat

hypernyms (9)

Words that are more generic or abstract

  1. throne
  1. crapper
  1. toilet
  1. can
  1. stool
  1. potty
  1. commode
  1. pot
  1. sink

same context (19)

Words that are found in similar contexts

  1. washroom
  2. bathroom
  3. storeroom
  1. restroom
  2. toilet
  3. cloakroom
  1. kitchenette
  2. laundry
  3. bathtub
  1. bathhouse
  2. dressing room
  3. scullery
  1. sitting room
  2. turbolift
  3. sauna
  1. dormitory
  2. hot-water
  3. pantry
  1. closet

reverse dictionary (12)

Words that contain this word in their definition

  1. washroom
  2. powder room
  1. convenience
  2. lav
  1. corridor
  2. sanitary
  1. wash-room
  2. chalet
  1. lavatorial
  2. lounge
  1. lavabo
  2. water-heater

tags (5)

Free-form, user-generated categorization

  1. transportation
  1. aviation
  1. British
  1. cvcvcvcv
  1. -ory

Log in or sign up to add your own tag.

Wordmap

(beta)

Word visualization

Lists

These user-created lists contain the word ‘lavatory’.

More lists containing ‘lavatory’

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.

  • nycanthro David Sedaris has a hilarious story about his adventures using the Stadium Pal. Yes people, the future is now!

    Mar 3, 2009

  • reesetee Well, at least you'd have a seat cushion. Mar 2, 2009

  • chained_bear Peeing on a ShamWow seems somehow like poetic justice.

    But doing so in one's assigned seat? Eugh. Mar 2, 2009

  • dontcry Totally fake. They are flat, like cardboard but plump up like crazy when absorbing liquid. Mar 2, 2009

  • reesetee But they don't allow non-human animal matter either!

    Or do you refer to fake sponges? Mar 2, 2009

  • dontcry Orrrrrrr....ShamWow! A whole new market. Goody. Mar 2, 2009

  • dontcry What about those really, really flat sponges that absorb tons of water without leaking? You could stash a couple of those puppies in your pants and away you go! Mar 2, 2009

  • chained_bear The solution is simple. People who may need to use a lavatory should simply not board the plane in the first place. That will eliminate (ha!!) the problem entirely and not involve plant matter. Mar 2, 2009

  • plethora Somehow, rt, that appears to be an obstacle noone else in this discussion has considered. Mar 2, 2009

  • reesetee Sure, that'll work--as soon as they allow plant matter on planes. :-\ Mar 2, 2009

  • plethora Well, I'm no botanist, but perhaps a young citrus tree?

    Also, preferably something that could not be used as a weapon, the way a spiky, ouchy cactus could. You wouldn't want it confiscated at airport security. Mar 2, 2009

  • bilby Any better ideas? Mar 2, 2009

  • plethora What if other people follow your lead? A succulent doesn't need much water, an entire planeful of passengers could drown it. Mar 2, 2009

  • bilby Silly bear. You take the cactus out of your carry-on bag and put it innocently next to the hacienda. When it's time to go, you walk nonchalantly down the aircraft aisle, hop over the horse trough, go across the street, behind the cactus and whizz on the pile of stones. Mar 2, 2009

  • plethora A cactus? That could lead to some discomfort, especially on a turbulent flight. Mar 2, 2009

  • chained_bear So... piss in your carry-on? Mar 2, 2009

  • bilby Keep a cactus in your carry-on, that's what I always say. Mar 1, 2009

  • reesetee On the plane? Mar 1, 2009

  • bilby Easy, just go behind a tree. Feb 28, 2009

  • chained_bear Sure, they can charge to use the loo. Just wait till that one time someone really has to go and doesn't have the money. They'll stop charging pretty soon after that--once someone cleans it up. Feb 27, 2009

  • dontcry Somehow, the phrase "pissing in the wind" comes to mind -- I just can't seem to work it into a joke... (re: rt's post) Feb 27, 2009

  • reesetee Unbelievable. Someone's actually considering it. Feb 27, 2009

  • trivet I never had the pleasure. Good to know, thanks. Feb 21, 2007

  • reesetee *Definitely* parochial schools! Feb 21, 2007

  • abraxaszugzwang and parochial schools. Feb 21, 2007

  • trivet I think this word is only ever used on airplanes (in the states, at least). Feb 21, 2007

Tweets

Looking for tweets for lavatory.

‘lavatory’ has been looked up 1668 times, added to 18 lists, commented on 26 times, and has a Scrabble score of 14.