to lave
1
9.9
- verb
- /leɪv/
- Archaic
- I scoop some water and lave the back of my neck.
- tongue laving
Examples
-
But it took the pain away, and he laved his face with it, ignoring warnings.
Fiction book (1992) -
For all the water of the ocean... could never turn a swan's black legs to white... although she lave them hourly in the flood.
-
He guided the gray between dunes to the white beach, which was hard, wide, and gently laved by a purling surf.
Fiction book (1993) -
Exhausted, gasping, streaming with perspiration, we finally emerged upon a plateau high on the peak's side and were suddenly laved in that warm wind that stirred the palm fronds.
Blog text (22) -
After a long day at the beach, I love to lave my feet in cool water to wash away the sand.
-
He decided to lave his hands thoroughly before preparing the meal.
-
Each morning, she would lave her face with fresh water to feel refreshed.
Synonyms
934
1.0
To clean something with water, often using soap
299
1.0
To wash your body under a spray of water
119
1.0
To wash and relax in a tub of warm water
88
1.0
To wash your whole body in water to get clean
82
1.0
To wash something with water to remove soap or dirt
56
1.0
To wash your hands and face to get clean
44
2.1
To get into warm water to clean yourself or relax
To clean something using water to remove dirt or chemicals
How Thorough
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word lave comes from the old Latin root lav- meaning 'to wash', the same root you see in lavatory. So to lave is to 'wash' or bathe, often in a gentle way with water.