toilet

[toi-lit]

noun

1. a bathroom fixture consisting of a bowl, usually with a detachable, hinged seat and lid, and a device for flushing with water, used for defecation and urination.

2. a lavatory.

3. a bathroom.

4. toilet bowl.

5. a dressing room, especially one containing a bath.

6. the act or process of dressing or grooming oneself, including bathing and arranging the hair.

   to make one's toilet; busy at her toilet.

7. toilet set.

8. the dress or costume of a person; any particular costume.

   toilet of white silk.

9. Surgery.,  the cleansing of a part after childbirth or a wound after an operation.

10. Archaic.,  dressing table.

toilet

/ ˈtɔɪlɪt /

noun

1. another word for lavatory

2. old-fashioned,  the act of dressing and preparing oneself

   to make one's toilet

3. old-fashioned,  a dressing table or the articles used when making one's toilet

4. rare,  costume

5. the cleansing of a wound, etc, after an operation or childbirth

Word History and Origins

Origin of toilet¹

1530–40; < French toilette small cloth, doily, dressing table, equivalent to toile toil ² + -ette -et

Word History and Origins

Origin of toilet¹

C16: from French toilette dress, from _toile

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. go down / in the toilet, to become worthless or profitless; be doomed.

   The team's entire season went down the toilet.

Example Sentences

There is evidence of poor nutrition, poor hygiene and rationing of period products and toilet paper at Clearsprings' sites, charities have told us.

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The utility company continues to call on members of the public to avoid flushing wet wipes and waste other than toilet paper.

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If you've done the trip on the coach a few times, you know if you go to the toilet, you have to stick your leg out so they can't close the door.

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Seriously, why the hell is this administration determined to flush billions down Argentina’s toilet — or, to phrase that more elegantly, cui bono?

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The punishment cells, or the “Klondike,” are described in a 1924 warden’s report as a row of unsanitary, windowless cells with black painted ceilings and walls, and only an iron toilet and faucet.

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Related Words

• latrine 
• lavatory 
• outhouse 
• restroom