English Explanatory Dictionary

lather

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The foam made by rapidly stirring soap and water.
  2. Foam from profuse sweating, as of a horse.
  3. A state of agitation.
verb
  1. To cover with lather.
  2. To beat or whip.
  3. To form lather or froth, as a horse does when profusely sweating.

Pronunciation

lä'thə lăth'ə /ˈlɑː.ðə/ /ˈlæð.ə/ /ˈlæð.ɚ/ En-us-lather.ogg en-au-lather.ogg

Word forms

lather lathers lathering lathered

Etymology

From Middle English lather, from Old English lēaþor (“a kind of nitre used for soap, soda”), from Proto-West Germanic *lauþr, from Proto-Germanic *lauþrą (“that which is used for washing, soap”), from Proto-Indo-European *lówh₃trom (“that which is used for washing”), from *lewh₃-, *lowh₃- (“to wash, bathe”). Cognate with Swedish lödder (“lather, foam, froth, soap”), Icelandic löður (“foam, froth, a kind of niter used for soap”), Old Irish loathar (“wash-basin”), Ancient Greek λουτρόν (loutrón, “a bath, wash-room”), Latin lavō (“to wash”), Albanian laj (“to wash”), Ancient Greek λούω (loúō). More at lye.

Synonyms

suds soap suds spume foam froth

Derived words

in a lather latherin latherless latherwort lathery latherable latherer lather, rinse, repeat lather up nonlathering
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