lather

¹ American  

[lath-er] / ˈlæð ər /

noun

1. foam or froth made by a detergent, especially soap, when stirred or rubbed in water, as by a brush used in shaving or by hands in washing.

2. foam or froth formed in profuse sweating, as on a horse.

3. Informal. a state of excitement, agitation, nervous tension, or the like.

   He was in a lather over my delay.

---

verb (used without object)

1. to form a lather.

   a soap that lathers well.

2. to become covered with lather, as a horse.

verb (used with object)

1. to apply lather to; cover with lather.

   He lathered his face before shaving.

2. Informal. to beat or whip.

lather ² American  

[lath-er, lah-ther] / ˈlæθ ər, ˈlɑ θər /

noun

1. a worker who puts up laths.

---

lather British  

/ ˈlɑːðə, ˈlæ- /

noun

1. foam or froth formed by the action of soap or a detergent in water

2. foam formed by other liquid, such as the sweat of a horse

3. informal a state of agitation or excitement

---

verb

1. to coat or become coated with lather

2. (intr) to form a lather

lather Idioms  

1. see in a lather.

---

Other Word Forms

• latherer noun
• lathery adjective
• unlathered adjective

Etymology

Origin of lather¹

before 950; Middle English; Old English lēathor soap; cognate with Old Norse lauthr ( Icelandic löthur ) lather, foam

Origin of lather²

lath + -er ¹

Example Sentences

The apes picked leaves, chewed them into a green-white lather, and rubbed the substance onto their arms and legs.

From Science Magazine • May 1, 2024

In tests comparing the products' foaming and cleansing abilities, the researchers found that the spun shampoo's lather lasted longer and cleaned human hair more thoroughly.

From Science Daily • Apr. 11, 2024

Bathers sit on stone slabs under mosaic tiles, lather with traditional black soap and wash with scalding water from plastic buckets.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 6, 2024

A decades-old, small-batch soap-making process results in a dense cream that quickly turns into a luxurious lather on the skin, which means a dollop the size of a pea will do the trick.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 1, 2023

Without looking at her, and although he hadn’t quite finished his second-time-over shave, he pulled the face towel down from his shoulders and wiped the remaining lather off his face.

From "Franny and Zooey" by J. D. Salinger

Related Words

• froth