lavatory
A vessel or fixture for washing, particularlyA vessel or fixture for washing, particularly
» Tom knocked on the lavatory door.
Том постукав у двері туалету.
Meaning
17 senses(formal)A vessel or fixture for washing, particularly
A vessel or fixture for washing
(formal)A laver: a washbasin.
(formal)A piscina: the basin used for washing communion vessels.
(formal)A lavabo: the basin used for washing one's hands before handling the Eucharist.
(figuratively, formal, usually)A baptismal font: the basin used for baptism, used figuratively for the washing away of sins.
(formal)A plumbing fixture used for washing: a sink.
Their 'bathroom' included a toilet and a lavatory but no bath.
(formal)Handwashing as an act, particularly
Handwashing as an act, particularly
(formal)The lavabo: the ritual washing of hands before handling the eucharist.
(formal)The ritual washing of hands after using the piscina to clean the communion vessels.
(dated, formal)A washroom: a room used for washing the face and hands.
(euphemistic, formal)A room containing a toilet: a bathroom (US) or WC (UK).
Americans don't know 'WC' and Brits mock 'bathroom' but everyone usually understands 'toilet' or 'lavatory'.
(Northeastern, UK, US, formal)A plumbing fixture for urination and defecation: a toilet.
- a toilet that is cleaned of waste by the flow of water through it
- a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
- a bathroom sink that is permanently installed and connected to a water supply and drainpipe; where you can wash your hands and face
Examples
10 sentencesTom knocked on the lavatory door.
Том постукав у двері туалету.
Where's the lavatory?
Де туалет?
deWo ist das Klo?
We have just cleaned the lavatory.
I am looking for the lavatories.
Where can I find the lavatory?
deWo finde ich die Toilette?
Origin
From Middle English lavatorie, from Late Latin lavātōrium, from Latin lavāre (“to wash”) +From Middle English lavatorie, from Late Latin lavātōrium, from Latin lavāre (“to wash”) + -ium (forming places related to an activity). As a place to pan gold, via Spanish lavadero. Doublet of lavatorium and laver. See also lave.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
plural: lavatories| Singular | lavatory |
|---|---|
| Plural | lavatories |
regular
Synonyms
12 synonyms- a toilet that is cleaned of waste by the flow of water through it:flush toilet
- a room or building equipped with one or more toilets:toiletlavcanjohnprivybathroom
- a bathroom sink that is permanently installed and connected to a water supply and drainpipe; where you can wash your hands and face:washbasinbasinwashbowlwashstand