lave

¹ American  

[leyv] / leɪv /

verb (used with object)

laved, laving

1. to wash; bathe.

2. (of a river, sea, etc.) to flow along, against, or past; wash.

3. Obsolete. to ladle; pour or dip with a ladle.

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verb (used without object)

laved, laving

1. Archaic. to bathe.

lave ² American  

[leyv] / leɪv /

adjective

British.

1. (of ears) large and drooping.

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lave ³ American  

[leyv] / leɪv /

noun

Scot.

1. the remainder; the rest.

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lave British  

/ leɪv /

verb

1. an archaic word for wash

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Other Word Forms

• unlaved adjective
• unlaving adjective

Etymology

Origin of lave¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English laven “to wash, bathe, moisten,” partly from Old French laver, from Latin lavāre “to wash, bathe”; partly from Old English lafian “to pour water on, wash,” gelafian “to wash, lave, refresh,” itself perhaps from Latin lavāre

Origin of lave¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; special use of lave ¹

Origin of lave¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English love, lave, loave, Old English lāf “remnant, remains”; cognate with Old High German leiba, Old Norse leif, Gothic laiba; akin to leave ¹

Example Sentences

The eruption eased pressure that had been building under a lave dome perched on the crater.

From Seattle Times

"This is the last lave net fishery in Wales, we've done everything we can to save it," he said.

From BBC

New elections have been called for next March, and Bartomeu offered to resign if he was the reason Messi wanted to lave.

From Washington Times

Aaron Judge’s return was brief for the hurting New York Yankees, who lave lost five straight.

From Washington Times

And through loudspeakers, they’re asking: Wash your hands, or lave men in Creole.

From New York Times