lave
/leɪv/
lave verb: to bathe or wash (someone or something).
Verb (1)
lave (third-person singular simple present laves, present participle laving, simple past and past participle laved)
- To bathe or wash (someone or something).
- [M]y houſe vvithin the City / Is richly furniſhed vvith plate and gold, / Baſons and evvers to laue her dainty hands: […]c. 1590–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward]...
- [W]e muſt laue / Our Honors in theſe flattering ſtreames, / And make our Faces Vizards to our Hearts, / Diſguiſing vvhat they are.c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount...
- Of a river or other water body: to flow along or past (a place or thing); to wash.
- VVith roomy decks, her Guns of mighty ſtrength, / (VVhoſe lovv-laid mouthes each mounting billovv laves:) / Deep in her draught, and vvarlike in her length, / She ſeems a Sea-vvaſp flying on the vvaves.1667, John Dryden, Annus Mirabilis: The Year of Wonders, 1666. […], London: […] Henry Herringman, […], →OCLC, stanza 153, page 39
- Scamandrius vvas his name, vvhich Hector gave, / From that fair flood [the Scamander or Karamenderes River] vvhich Ilion's vvall did lave: […]a. 1701 (date written), John Dryden, “The Last Parting of Hector and Andromache. From the Sixth Book of the Iliad.”, in The Miscellaneous Works of John Dryden, […], volume IV, London: […] J[acob] and...
- Followed by into, on, or upon: to pour (water or some other liquid) with or as if with a ladle into or on someone or something; to lade, to ladle.
- Then the Lead being melted, […] it is laved into the Pan, […]1703, Richard Neve, “Lead”, in The City and Country Purchaser, and Builder’s Dictionary: Or, The Compleat Builders Guide. […], 2nd edition, London: […] D. Browne, […]; J. and B. Sprint […], G....
- To remove (something), as if by washing away with water.
- And now, she sat down under the leafless tree, to weep; and in those bitter tears, childhood itself was laved from her soul for ever.1843, [Edward Bulwer-Lytton], “The Broken Gittern”, in The Last of the Barons, volume I, London: Saunders and Otley, […], →OCLC, book I (The Adventures of Master Marmaduke Nevile), page 36
- To surround or gently touch (someone or something), as if with water.
- [W]hen the midnight moon did lave / Her forehead in the silver wave, / How solemn on the ear would come / The holy mattin's distant hum, […]1810, Walter Scott, “Canto I. The Chase.”, in The Lady of the Lake; […], Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for John Ballantyne and Co.; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme, and William...
- Approach, encompassing Death—strong Deliveress! / When it is so—when thou hast taken them, I joyously sing the dead, / Lost in the loving, floating ocean of thee, / Laved in the flood of thy bliss, O Death.1865 (indicated as 1865–1866), Walt Whitman, “When Lilacs Last in the Door-yard Bloom’d”, in Sequel to Drum-Taps. […] When Lilacs Last in the Door-yard Bloom’d. And Other Pieces, Washington, D.C....
- Chiefly in sexual contexts: to lick (someone or something).
- "Who could resist such a temptation?" he drawled, and bent to lave each nipple with his tongue till the satin was wet and clinging.1998, Miranda Lee, The Boss’s Baby, Richmond, Surrey: Harlequin Mills & Boon, →ISBN, page 102
- Liam's mouth was so hot and wet on his cock, his tongue so wicked, laving his shaft expertly with smooth, slick strokes, delving into his slit and swiping away the fluid leaking from it. Why was Liam doing this?2014 February 21, Scarlet Blackwell, Beached Hearts, Lincoln, Lincolnshire: Total-E-Bound Publishing, →ISBN
- Followed by out or up: to draw or scoop (water) out of something with a bucket, scoop, etc.; specifically, to bail (water) out of a boat.
- Thou haſt plaid muſique to my dolefull ſoule; / And vvhen my heart vvas tympaniz'd vvith griefe, / Thou lauedſt out ſome into thy heart from mine, / And kept it ſo from burſting; […]c. 1613–1618 (first performance), Thomas Goffe, The Tragedy of Orestes, […], London: […] I[ohn] B[eale] for Richard Meighen, […], published 1633, →OCLC, Act IIII, scene ii, signature F2, verso
- [W]hen I haue laved the Sea dry, thou ſhalt vnderſtand the myſtery of the Trinity; […]1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], “An Heape of Other Accidents Causing Melancholy. Death of Friends, Losses, &c.”, in The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford...
- To bathe or wash.
- Happy he that ſips Eternally ſuch Nectar dovvn, that unconfin'd may Lave, and VVanton there in ſateleſs Draughts of ever ſpringing Beauty— […]1700 (date written), Colley Cibber, Love Makes a Man: Or, The Fop’s Fortune. A Comedy. […], London: […] Richard Parker […], Hugh Newman […], and E. Rumbal […], published 1701, →OCLC, Act II, page 19
- The ſilver Stream her Virgin Coldneſs keeps, / For ever murmurs, and for ever vveeps; / […] / In her chaſt Current oft the Goddeſs laves, / And vvith Celeſtial Tears augments the VVaves.1713, [Alexander] Pope, Windsor-Forest. […], London: […] Bernard Lintott […], →OCLC, page 9
- To surround as if with water.
- Chiefly in sexual contexts; followed by at: to lick.
- Alexander went from laving at her breasts to nuzzling her belly and then his mouth was on her bare thigh, nibbling at her flesh as his fingers delved inside her sheath. She felt herself stretch and squeeze against his long fingers.2011, Eliza Knight, chapter 10, in A Lady’s Charade (The Rules of Chivalry; 1), [South Carolina]: CreateSpace Independent, →ISBN, page 122
- He pressed them back down and continued licking, laving at her as her inner muscles contracted around his fingers and she panted out his name. He didn't relent until the last shudder rippled through her beautiful body.2015, Melissa Foster, Healed by Love (Love in Bloom; The Bradens at Peaceful Harbor; 1), Los Gatos, Calif.: Smashwords, →ISBN
Noun (1)
lave (plural laves)
- An act of bathing or washing; a bath or bathe, a wash.
- Once more Arion and his loving nymph / Together rest within their summer cave, / In the green woodland, where the crystal lymph / Through sands and ivy pulsed with ceaseless lave.1865 September, “Glimpses of Greek Fableland. Arion’s Return.”, in Dublin University Magazine, a Literary and Political Journal, volume LXVI, number CCCXCIII, Dublin: George Herbert, […]; London...
- The sea.
- When Nature, languid, seems to rest, / Nor moves a leaf, nor heaves a wave, / And Zephyrs sleep, by Sol caress'd, / And sportive swallows skim the lave; […]1826, Bernard Blackmantle [pseudonym; Charles Molloy Westmacott], “Noon in the Isle of Wight”, in The English Spy: […], volume II, London: Sherwood, Gilbert, and Piper, […], →OCLC, page 168
Noun (2)
lave (uncountable)
- That which is left over; a remainder, a remnant, the rest.
- Of prelates proud, a populous lave, / And abbots boldly there vvere known. / VVith Biſhop of St. Andrevv's brave, / VVho vvas King James's baſtard ſon.16th – early 17th century (date written), “Part I. Fit I. Stanza CXXVII.”, in An Exact and Circumstantial History of the Battle of Floddon. […], Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland: […] R. Taylor...
- The Mother, vvi' a vvoman's vviles, can ſpy / VVhat makes the Youth ſae baſhfu' and ſae grave; / VVeel-pleas'd to think her bairn's reſpected like the lave.1785–1786 (date written; published 1786), Robert Burns, “The Cotter’s Saturday Night”, in Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect, 2nd edition, volume II, Edinburgh: […] T[homas] Cadell, […], and...
- A relict, a widow.
Adjective
lave (not comparable)
- Chiefly in lave ears: of ears: drooping, hanging down.
- And I ſvveare by the bloud of my codpiece, / An I vvere a vvoman I vvould lug off his laue eares, / Or run him to death vvith a ſpit: […]1606, A Pleasant Comedie. Called Wily Beguilde. […], London: […] H[umphrey] L[ownes] for Clement Knight […], →OCLC, page 58
- [C]omplexion here red, there tavvny, in another Country black vvins the prize: for proportion, here the tall, there the mean, here the ſlender, there the groſs, here the little Ear, there the lave Ear, here the thin Lip, there the Blubber-lip, here the ſtreight, there the die Neck are eſteemed moſt...1675, John Smith, “Reason Nonplus’d, Help’d by Religion, Acquiesceth in Her Resolutions”, in Christian Religion’s Appeal from the Groundless Prejudices of the Sceptick, to the Bar of Common Reason....
Verb (2)
lave (third-person singular simple present laves, present participle laving, simple past and past participle laved)
- Of ears: to droop, to hang down.
- His mouth ſhrinks ſidevvard like a ſcornfull Playſe / To take his tired Eares ingratefull place; / His Eares hang lauing like a nevv-lug'd ſvvine / To take ſome counſell of his grieued eyne, […]1598, [Joseph Hall], “Lib[er] 4. Sat[yr] 1. Che baiar Vuol, bai.”, in Virgidemiarum. The Three Last Bookes. Of Byting Satyres, London: […] Richard Bradocke for Robert Dexter […], →OCLC, page 7
lave meaning in Urdu and Kannada
lave in Urdu
- نہانا دھونا, غسل کرنا, انڈیلنا
lave in Kannada
- ತೊಳೆ, ಮೀಯು
Examples of lave in a sentence
- VVith Nectar pure his oozy Lock's he laves.1637 (date written; published 1638), John Milton, “Lycidas”, in Poems of Mr. John Milton, […], London: […] Ruth Raworth for Humphrey...
- [F]rom my vveary'd limbs I lave / The foul pollution of the briny vvave: […]1725, Homer, “Book VI”, in [William Broome], transl., The Odyssey of Homer. […], volume II, London: […] Bernard Lintot, →OCLC, page 77...
- [M]ild Parthenope’s delightful Shore, / VVhere huſh'd in Clams the bord’ring Ocean laves / Her ſilent Coaſt, and rolls in languid VVaves; […]1705, J[oseph] Addison, “Naples”, in Remarks on Several Parts of Italy, &c. in the Years 1701, 1702, 1703, London: […] Jacob Tonson, […]...
- Delicious is your Shelter to the Soul, / As to the hunted Hart the ſallying Spring, / Or Stream full-flovving, that his ſvvelling Sides / Laves, as He floats along the Herbag'd Brink.1727, James Thomson, Summer. A Poem, […] J[ohn] Millan, […], →OCLC, page 34:
Synonyms of lave
Forms of lave
| Verb | |
|---|---|
| third-person singular present | laves |
| present participle | laving |
| past participle | laved |
| past | laved |
| second-person singular present (archaic) | lavest |
| second-person singular past (archaic) | lavedst |
| third-person singular present (archaic) | laveth |
| Noun | |
| plural | laves |
| alternative form | lafe |
| alternative form | laif |
| alternative form | law |
Origin of lave
The verb is derived from Middle English laven (“to bathe, wash; to bail or draw water, drain, exhaust; to dampen, wet; to pour; of water, etc.: to flow, stream”), and then partly: * from Old French laver (“to be washed; to wash”) (modern French laver (“to wash (oneself)”)), from Latin lavāre, the present active infinitive of lavō (“to bathe, wash; to dampen, wet”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *lewh₃- (“to wash”); and * from Old English lafian (“to bathe; to make wet; to ladle out; to pour”), from Proto-West Germanic *labōn (“to refresh, revitalize; to strengthen”); further etymology uncertain, possibly from Latin lavō (see above) but this does not explain the change in meaning from “to wash; to wet” to “to refresh; to strengthen”. Perhaps Old English lafian is derived directly from the Latin word, and Proto-West Germanic *labōn and words in languages derived from it such as Dutch and German are coincidentally similar to the Old English word. The noun is derived from the verb.
From Northern Middle English lave, Middle English love, Early Middle English lafe (“remainder, rest; legacy; relict, widow”), from Old English lāf (“remainder, rest; heirloom; legacy; relict, widow”), from Proto-West Germanic *laibu (“remainder”), from Proto-Germanic *laibō (“remainder, remnant”), from *lībaną (“to be left, to remain”), probably from Proto-Indo-European *leyp- (“to stick; fat or sticky substance”). Doublet of belive (“(obsolete except UK, dialectal) to remain, stay”). Cognates * Old English belīfan (“to remain”) * Old High German leiba (“to lave”) * Old Norse leif (“to lave”)
The adjective is from Middle English lave (“of the ears: drooping, hanging down”), from Old Norse lafa, from Proto-Germanic *labēn- (“to dangle”), from Proto-Indo-European *leb- (“to hang down loosely (?)”). The verb is probably derived from the adjective.
Words formed from lave
Phrases with lave
Words that rhyme with lave
Questions about lave
- What does lave mean?
- Lave means to bathe or wash (someone or something).
- What is lave in Urdu?
- Lave in Urdu is نہانا دھونا, غسل کرنا, انڈیلنا. See Lave meaning in Urdu.
- How do you use lave in a sentence?
- VVith Nectar pure his oozy Lock's he laves.
- What part of speech is lave?
- Lave can be a verb, a noun or an adjective.
- How do you pronounce lave?
- Lave is pronounced /leɪv/ (UK).
- What is the past tense of lave?
- The past tense of lave is laved.
Words near lave in the dictionary
Source and license
Adapted from Wiktionary: lave (page history and authors); lave (Urdu Wiktionary) (page history and authors); lave (Kannada Wiktionary) (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.
Last updated:
Pronunciation audio from Wikimedia Commons, each file under its own free license: LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-lave.wav.
Cite this entry: “lave.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/lave. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.