lathe

[leyth]

noun

1. a machine for use in working wood, metal, etc., that holds the material and rotates it about a horizontal axis against a tool that shapes it.

verb (used with object)

lathed, lathing 

1. to cut, shape, or otherwise treat on a lathe.

lathe

¹

/ leɪð /

noun

1. a machine for shaping, boring, facing, or cutting a screw thread in metal, wood, etc, in which the workpiece is turned about a horizontal axis against a fixed tool

verb

1. (tr) to shape, bore, or cut a screw thread in or on (a workpiece) on a lathe

lathe

²

/ leɪð /

noun

1. history any of the former administrative divisions of Kent

Word History and Origins

Origin of lathe¹

1300–50; Middle English: frame, stand, lathe; compare Old Norse hlath stack ( lade ), Danish -lad in væverlad weaver's batten, savelad saw bench

Word History and Origins

Origin of lathe¹

perhaps C15 lath a support, of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Danish lad lathe, Old English hlæd heap

Origin of lathe²

Old English læth district

Example Sentences

The military released what it said was drone footage from inside the tunnel, which showed several rooms, a bathroom, rocket casings and a lathe.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Bob chats against the buzzing backdrop of whirring industrial tools and woodwork machines in the next room - a laser cutter, bandsaw, lathe and a 3D printer among them.

Read more on BBC

Customers in Uganda want more tools and equipment, including lathes and water pumps.

Read more on Seattle Times

To do the work, the team used a large lathe to spin a detached brake rotor and caliper.

Read more on Science Daily

Autumn, who has been working on a machine that resembles a large lathe — a ringer, which generates telephone rings — passes De Jaen and the rectifier.

Read more on Seattle Times

Related Words

• minaret 
• spire 
• steeple