lather
lather Lexical Profile
lather Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A frothy white mass of bubbles produced by soap, detergent, or shampoo when mixed with water.
"Work the shampoo into a rich lather before rinsing your hair thoroughly with warm water."
Heavy, frothy sweat formed on a horse's coat after strenuous exertion.
"After galloping across the valley, the stallion was covered in a white lather."
An informal state of nervous agitation, excitement, or fretful anxiety.
"He got himself into a terrible lather over the missing financial documents."
• verb
To cover or rub a surface or the body with a frothy mass of soap bubbles, or to form such a foam when mixed with water.
"The barber lathered the customer's chin before picking up the straight razor."
To apply a cream, lotion, or ointment generously over the skin.
"Make sure to lather your shoulders with sunscreen before spending the afternoon at the beach."
• Rhymes for lather
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English leaðor ('washing soda' or 'soap foam'), derived from the Proto-Germanic root *lauthra- and ultimately related to the Proto-Indo-European root *leue- ('to wash'), which also gave rise to the Latin lavare ('to wash') and English words like 'lavatory' and 'laundry'.