LAVE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does lave mean? 

• LAVE (verb)
  The verb LAVE has 3 senses:

1. wash or flow against

2. cleanse (one's body) with soap and water

3. wash one's face and hands

  Familiarity information: LAVE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• LAVE (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Wash or flow against

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

lap; lave; wash

Context example:

the waves laved the shore

Hypernyms (to "lave" is one way to...):

flow (cover or swamp with water)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Cleanse (one's body) with soap and water

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

lave; wash

Hypernyms (to "lave" is one way to...):

clean; cleanse (clean one's body or parts thereof, as by washing)

Verb group:

wash (to cleanse (itself or another animal) by licking)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "lave"):

sponge down (wash with a sponge)

scrub; scrub up (wash thoroughly)

gargle; rinse (rinse one's mouth and throat with mouthwash)

shampoo (use shampoo on (hair))

hush (wash by removing particles)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

lavage (washing out a hollow organ (especially the stomach) by flushing with water)

lavation (the work of cleansing (usually with soap and water))

Sense 3

Meaning:

Wash one's face and hands

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

lave; wash up

Context example:

She freshened up in the bathroom

Hypernyms (to "lave" is one way to...):

freshen; freshen up; refresh; refreshen (become or make oneself fresh again)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

lavation (the work of cleansing (usually with soap and water))

 Context examples 

It would have been better, as it turned out, to have led gently up to this announcement, for Mrs. Micawber, being in a delicate state of health, was overcome by it, and was taken so unwell, that Mr. Micawber was obliged, in great trepidation, to run down to the water-butt in the backyard, and draw a basinful to lave her brow with.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)