LAVATORY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does lavatory mean? 

• LAVATORY (noun)
  The noun LAVATORY has 3 senses:

1. a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

2. a bathroom sink that is permanently installed and connected to a water supply and drainpipe; where you can wash your hands and face

3. a toilet that is cleaned of waste by the flow of water through it

  Familiarity information: LAVATORY used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• LAVATORY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A room or building equipped with one or more toilets

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

bathroom; can; john; lav; lavatory; privy; toilet

Hypernyms ("lavatory" is a kind of...):

room (an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling)

Meronyms (parts of "lavatory"):

can; commode; crapper; pot; potty; stool; throne; toilet (a plumbing fixture for defecation and urination)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "lavatory"):

head ((nautical) a toilet on board a boat or ship)

comfort station; convenience; public convenience; public lavatory; public toilet; restroom; toilet facility; wash room (a toilet that is available to the public)

washroom (a lavatory (particularly a lavatory in a public place))

closet; loo; W.C.; water closet (a toilet in Britain)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A bathroom sink that is permanently installed and connected to a water supply and drainpipe; where you can wash your hands and face

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

basin; lavatory; washbasin; washbowl; washstand

Context example:

he ran some water in the basin and splashed it on his face

Hypernyms ("lavatory" is a kind of...):

sink (plumbing fixture consisting of a water basin fixed to a wall or floor and having a drainpipe)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A toilet that is cleaned of waste by the flow of water through it

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

flush toilet; lavatory

Hypernyms ("lavatory" is a kind of...):

can; commode; crapper; pot; potty; stool; throne; toilet (a plumbing fixture for defecation and urination)

Meronyms (parts of "lavatory"):

pull chain (a chain (usually with a handle at the end) that is pulled in order to operate some mechanism (e.g. to flush a toilet))