Lave: meaning, definitions and examples

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lave

 

[ leɪv ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

to wash

To lave means to wash or bathe something, usually with water. It often suggests a gentle or soothing action of washing. The term can also imply applying water to cleanse or refresh.

Synonyms

bathe, cleanse, rinse, wash

Examples of usage

  • She laved her hands before the meal.
  • The mother laved her child's face.
  • The waves laved the shore gently.

Translations

Translations of the word "lave" in other languages:

🇵🇹 lave

🇮🇳 धोना

🇩🇪 waschen

🇮🇩 cuci

🇺🇦 мити

🇵🇱 myć

🇯🇵 洗う

🇫🇷 laver

🇪🇸 lavar

🇹🇷 yıkamak

🇰🇷 씻다

🇸🇦 غسل

🇨🇿 mýt

🇸🇰 umývať

🇨🇳 

🇸🇮 oprati

🇮🇸 þvo

🇰🇿 жуып

🇬🇪 რეცხვა

🇦🇿 yumaq

🇲🇽 lavar

Etymology

The word 'lave' comes from the Old English term 'lafian', which means 'to wash'. Its roots can be traced back to Middle English, where it was used in a more formal or literary context to signify an act of bathing or washing gently. The evolution of the word has kept its essential meaning intact, focusing on actions related to water and cleansing. Over time, 'lave' has been predominantly used in poetic or descriptive language, often evoking images of nature, rivers, or gentle movements of water.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #25,245, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.