online vocabulary.com

Lave - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

Lave means to wash or bathe, often used poetically or archaically. It can describe the action of water flowing against something, like waves lapping the shore.

lave

/leɪv/ /leɪv/

Definition:

To wash or bathe something, often poetically or ceremonially.

Synonyms:

wash, cleanse, bathe, rinse, purify

Part of Speech:

verb

Antonyms:

dirty, soil, stain

Common Collocations:

lave hands, lave feet, lave wounds, lave in light

Derivatives:

laving, laved

Usage Tips:

Use "lave" in poetic or formal contexts to describe washing gently or ceremonially.

Common Phrases:

lave away sins, lave in moonlight, lave the soul

Etymology:

From Old English "lafian," meaning to pour water on or wash; related to Latin "lavare."

Examples:

  • 1. She gently laved her face with cool water.
  • 2. The priest laved the baby’s forehead during the ceremony.
  • 3. Waves laved the shore under the golden sunset.
  • 4. He laved his hands before the sacred ritual began.

MORE VOCABULARY LISTS