lave

C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes

US /leɪv/ UK /leɪv/ See IPA manual

Minimal pairs

Sounds like lathe /ð/ vs /v/ Sounds like rave /l/ vs /r/

verb

Meanings

1

verb
to wash or bathe; to flow against

Gentle waves lave the pebbled shore at dawn.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to wash or bathe; to flow... wash bathe cleanse rinse lap

Word family

Derived forms laver

Related forms lavatory lavish lotion ablution laundry

Etymology

From Old English lafian ('to wash by pouring, lave'), reinforced by or merged with Old French laver, both from Latin lavāre ('to wash').

lavāre Latin *lewh₃- Proto-Indo-European

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

# lave

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** leɪv
**IPA (UK):** leɪv

## Meanings
1. to wash or bathe; to flow against

## Examples
- Gentle waves lave the pebbled shore at dawn.

## Synonyms
- wash
- bathe
- cleanse
- rinse
- lap

## Derived Forms
- laver

## Related Forms
- lavatory
- lavish
- lotion
- ablution
- laundry

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: lavāre
- Root: *lewh₃-

## Etymology
From Old English lafian ('to wash by pouring, lave'), reinforced by or merged with Old French laver, both from Latin lavāre ('to wash').

## AI Etymology
Lave comes from Old English lafian ('to wash by pouring, lave'), reinforced by or merged with Old French laver, both from Latin lavāre ('to wash'). The etymological trail includes Latin lavāre and Proto-Indo-European *lewh₃-. As a verb, lave means to wash or bathe; to flow against. The same family is visible in derived forms such as laver and related forms such as lavatory, lavish, lotion, ablution, and laundry.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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lave

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