lave
1[ leyv ]
/ leɪv /
verb (used with object), laved, lav·ing.
to wash; bathe.
(of a river, sea, etc.) to flow along, against, or past; wash.
Obsolete. to ladle; pour or dip with a ladle.
verb (used without object), laved, lav·ing.
Archaic. to bathe.
Nearby words
Origin of lave
1before 900; Middle English laven, partly < Old French laver < Latin lavāre to wash; partly representing Old English lafian to pour water on, wash, itself perhaps < Latin lavāre
Related formsun·laved, adjectiveun·lav·ing, adjective
Definition for lave (2 of 3)
lave
2[ leyv ]
/ leɪv /
noun Scot.
the remainder; the rest.
Origin of lave
2before 1000; Middle English (Scots); Old English lāf; cognate with Old High German leiba, Old Norse leif, Gothic laiba; akin to leave1
Definition for lave (3 of 3)
lave
3[ leyv ]
/ leɪv /
adjective British.
(of ears) large and drooping.
Origin of lave
3Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for lave
British Dictionary definitions for lave
Word Origin for lave
Old English lafian, perhaps from Latin lavāre to wash
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for lave
lave
c.1200, from Old English gelafian "wash by pouring, pour (water)," possibly an early English or West Germanic borrowing (cf. Dutch laven, German laben) of Latin lavare "to wash," or its Old French descendant, laver. Latin lavare is from PIE *leu(e)- "to wash" (cf. Latin luere "to wash," Greek louein "to wash, bathe," Old Irish loathar "basin," Breton laouer "trough," Old English leaþor "lather").
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper