lavatory

lav·a·to·ry

noun \ˈla-və-ˌtȯr-ē, British -və-t(ə-)rē\

plural lav·a·to·ries

Definition of LAVATORY

1

: a vessel (as a basin) for washing; especially : a fixed bowl or basin with running water and drainpipe for washing

2

: a room with conveniences for washing and usually with one or more toilets

3

: toilet 3b

— lavatory adjective

Examples of LAVATORY

1. a wide choice of lavatories on sale at plumbing supply stores
2. <the school's filthy, broken-down lavatories were a disgrace>

Origin of LAVATORY

Middle English lavatorie, from Medieval Latin lavatorium, from Latin lavare to wash — more at lye

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to LAVATORY

Synonyms

bath, bathroom, bog [British], can, cloakroom [British], comfort station, convenience [chiefly British], head, john, latrine, toilet, loo [chiefly British], potty, restroom, washroom, water closet

Related Words

commode, pan [British], pot; garderobe, jakes, outhouse, privy; half bath, powder room; ladies [chiefly British], ladies' room, men's room

Other Building Terms

batten, cistern, hearth, lath, transom, wainscot

Rhymes with LAVATORY

a priori, allegory, amatory, auditory, bedtime story, cacciatore, castratory, category, con amore, cover story, crematory, damnatory, decretory, dilatory, dormitory, excretory, expletory, feudatory, fumitory, Göteborg, gustatory, gyratory, horror story, hortatory, hunky-dory, inventory, laudatory, mandatory, migratory, minatory, monitory, Montessori, morning glory, nugatory, offertory, oratory, overstory, piscatory, precatory, predatory, prefatory, probatory, promissory, promontory, purgatory, repertory, Ruwenzori, signatory, statutory, sudatory, territory, transitory, understory, vibratory, vomitory, yakitori