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Showing results for lave. Search instead for lavee.
Definitions

lave

[leyv] / leɪv /
VERB
wash
Synonyms
STRONG
bath bathe bubble cleanse dip douse drench float hose imbue immerse lap launder moisten rinse scour scrub shampoo shine shower slosh soak soap sponge starch swab wet wipe
WEAK
brush up clean up do the dishes do the laundry fresh up freshen up take a bath take a shower tub wash up
Antonyms
STRONG
dehydrate dirty dry ignore

Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for lave?
The verb lave is a rarely used word meaning to wash or bathe. Similar words are shower and rinse. A more specific sense of lave used in the context of bodies of water means to flow against or over, as in The tide laved the beach. Similar words used in the context of the gentle flow of water include lap, plash, and purl. Lap implies a gentle movement, without any splashing. Plash suggests a gentle splash. Purl means to flow with a curling sort of motion, as if over stones. In the U.K., lave is sometimes used as an adjective to describe ears as large and drooping. In Scotland, lave is used as a noun to mean the remainder or the rest.
How do you use lave in a sentence?
Lave is no longer commonly used. You may encounter it in literary contexts, often old books and poems. Here are some examples of lave in a sentence:
  • At high tide, the water laves the banks of the islands in the inner bay.
  • I could spend all day listening to the gentle current lave over the pebbles.
  • The wounds of the injured were laved.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In 2023 it brokered a deal between bitter rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran, which lave long stood on opposing sides in proxy wars in the Middle East.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

The eruption eased pressure that had been building under a lave dome perched on the crater.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 5, 2021

Khalid Thomas, Elias Valtonen and walk-on Kyle Feit all played sporadically, but their transfers lave Hurley with a thin roster, particularly if White and Martin don’t return.

From Washington Times • Apr. 1, 2020

Si tiene tiempo, lave la ropa y los platos sucios, pues puede que no haya electricidad después de la tormenta.

From Washington Times • Aug. 28, 2015

Despite the fact that I hated hem, Denna’s men taught me a lesson that I might never lave learned otherwise.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.