lavatory

nounadjectiveattested in dialogue

United Kingdom//ˈlæv.ə.tɹi//
United Kingdom//ˈlæv.ə.təɹ.i//
United States//ˈlæv.ə.t(ɔ)ɹ.i//

A vessel or fixture for washing, particularly

noun

1
A vessel or fixture for washing, particularly
Whon he haþ vsed he walkeþ riht To Lauatorie þer hit is diht For to wassche his hende.
And thow shalt make a brasun lauatory with his foot to wasshe with.
2
A vessel or fixture for washing A laver: a washbasin.
3
archaicA vessel or fixture for washing A bathtub.
4
A vessel or fixture for washing A piscina: the basin used for washing communion vessels.
5
A vessel or fixture for washing A lavabo: the basin used for washing one's hands before handling the Eucharist.
6
figurativeA vessel or fixture for washing A baptismal font: the basin used for baptism, used figuratively for the washing away of sins.
7
A vessel or fixture for washing A plumbing fixture used for washing: a sink.
Their 'bathroom' included a toilet and a lavatory but no bath.
Lavatories (bathroom sinks) are available in a blizzard of colors, materials, and styles.
Anywhere a water closet is used, a lavatory (ie, hand-washing sink) must also be installed.
8
Handwashing as an act, particularly
Wᵗ condicion that at the tyme of the Lavatory eueryche of theym turne theym to the people, and exorte theym to pray for ye soules following...
9
Handwashing as an act, particularly The lavabo: the ritual washing of hands before handling the eucharist.
10
Handwashing as an act, particularly The ritual washing of hands after using the piscina to clean the communion vessels.
11
obsoleteA liquid used in washing; a lotion; a wash; a rinse.
They must be wasshed wyth wyne or wyth some other lauatorye.
12
datedA washroom: a room used for washing the face and hands.
Even the lavatory, a vestibule to the refectory through which the novices would pass on their way to the recreation room, boasted a painting cycle.
13
A room containing a toilet: a bathroom (US) or WC (UK).
Americans don't know 'WC' and Brits mock 'bathroom' but everyone usually understands 'toilet' or 'lavatory'.
People needing to use the lavatory often ask to use the baño in a restaurant; toilet paper is rarely available, so the experienced traveler always carries a personal supply.
THE RESTROOM ON THE OLDER TRAINS ARE TOO SMALL FOR AN ADULT. ONE CAN'T USE THE TOILET WITHOUT CONSTANTLY ELBOWING THE WALL. AIRPLANES HAVE LARGER LAVATORIES AND A BETTER USEABLE FAUCET.
14
A plumbing fixture for urination and defecation: a toilet.
15
datedA place to wash clothes: a laundry.
16
obsoleteA place where gold is panned.
17
obsoleteA paved room in a mortuary where corpses are kept under a shower of disinfecting fluid.

Etymology

From Middle English lavatorie, from Late Latin lavātōrium, from Latin lavāre (“to wash”) + -ium (forming places related to an activity). As a place to pan gold, via Spanish lavadero. Doublet of lavatorium and laver. See also lave.

adjective

1
datedWashing, or cleansing by washing.

Etymology

From Latin lavātōrius.

Forms

plural: lavatories

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The neighbouring pages — Alphabetical order follows the rules of the language, not byte values: an accent decides only between two otherwise identical words, and Spanish files Ñ as a letter of its own.