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to lave

to lave

1 9.9
To wash someone or something gently with water
  • verb
  • /leɪv/
  • Archaic
translation icon : lavar
  • 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

to wash
vsto lave
941 1.0

To clean something with water, often using soap

stresses gentle, flowing water action rather than general cleaning
to shower
vsto lave
140 1.0

To wash your body under a spray of water

is gentler and implies flowing water rather than a direct spray
to take a bath
vsto lave
110 1.0

To wash and relax in a tub of warm water

emphasizes gentle, flowing motion rather than just being immersed
to rinse
vsto lave
83 1.0

To wash something with water to remove soap or dirt

involves continuous gentle washing rather than merely removing residue
to bathe
vsto lave
41 1.0

To wash your whole body in water to get clean

is more about gentle, flowing washing rather than full immersion
to bathe in
vsto lave
12 2.1

To get into warm water to clean yourself or relax

focuses on gentle, flowing action rather than forceful immersion
to wash up
vsto lave
11 1.0

To wash your hands and face to get clean

applies the gentle flowing idea to whole body care rather than just hands
to water-wash
vsto lave
2.7

To clean something using water to remove dirt or chemicals

highlights a gentle flowing wash rather than only rinsing away dirt

How Thorough

to sterilize
  • Specialized
29 4.1
to scour
15 4.8
to scrub
55 1.0
to wash
941 1.0
to lave
  • Archaic
1 9.9
to rinse
83 1.0
dab
8 2.0

Surface Forms

lave infinitive
laved past
laved past participle
laving present participle
laves third person singular

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.