lather
1 Americannoun
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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.
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foam or froth formed in profuse sweating, as on a horse.
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Informal. a state of excitement, agitation, nervous tension, or the like.
He was in a lather over my delay.
verb (used without object)
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to form a lather.
a soap that lathers well.
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to become covered with lather, as a horse.
verb (used with object)
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to apply lather to; cover with lather.
He lathered his face before shaving.
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Informal. to beat or whip.
noun
noun
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foam or froth formed by the action of soap or a detergent in water
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foam formed by other liquid, such as the sweat of a horse
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informal a state of agitation or excitement
verb
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to coat or become coated with lather
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(intr) to form a lather
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of lather1
before 950; Middle English; Old English lēathor soap; cognate with Old Norse lauthr ( Icelandic löthur ) lather, foam
Origin of lather2
Explanation
A lather is the froth soaps and detergents produce. Lathering also means to soap yourself up, and a lather can be a state of extreme agitation. When you're taking a shower, you make the soap frothy: this is a lather, and you're lathering when you create it. Rubbing soap on your body is also called lathering. Since lather is a stirred-up form of soap, it can also apply to emotions that have been stirred up. Someone upset is in a lather. Getting in a lather usually results from worry or anger, and it's an unpleasant state of mind.
Vocabulary lists containing lather
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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
She will lather with this pebbled lump until nothing remains.
From Salon • Jul. 8, 2023
The gentleman in the barber’s chair, his face already white with lather, half-lifted his head to see what had happened.
From "Mr. Popper's Penguins" by Florence Atwater and Richard Atwater
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
