laver

[ ley-ver ]

noun

Old Testament. a large basin upon a foot or pedestal in the court of the Hebrew tabernacle and subsequently in the temple, containing water for the ablutions of the priests and for the washing of the sacrifices in the temple service.
Ecclesiastical. the font or water of baptism.

any spiritually cleansing agency.
Archaic.
- a basin, bowl, or cistern to wash in.
- any bowl or pan for water.

Origin of laver

1300–50; Middle English lavo(u)r<Anglo-French lavour,Old French laveoir<Late Latin lavātōriumlavatory

Words Nearby laver

Other definitions for laver (2 of 3)

laver²

[ ley-ver ]

noun

any of several edible seaweeds, especially of the genus Porphyra.

Origin of laver

1605–15; <New Latin, special use of Latin laver a water plant

Other definitions for Laver (3 of 3)

Laver

[ ley-ver ]

noun

Rod(ney George), born 1938, Australian tennis player.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use laver in a sentence

He also became the first man to win three consecutive Grand Slams since Rod laver did it in 1969.
Tennis' Next Greatest Player Who Ever Lived | Joshua Robinson | September 14, 2010 | THE DAILY BEAST
A court enclosed the whole; near the porch was a laver for the ablutions of intending worshippers.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 3 | Various
The plants are edible, being the laver of commerce, eaten principally by the Chinese, who make them into soup.
The Sea-beach at Ebb-tide | Augusta Foote Arnold
There the cover ceased wholly, and below them lay the glen of the laver.
Huntingtower | John Buchan
On the benches beside the skeletons were a bronze laver and mirror, a simple candlestick, and a brazier used for burning perfumes.
Roman Mosaics | Hugh Macmillan

Tout l'ocan du grand Neptune pourrait-il laver ce sang de ma main?
Major Prophets of To-Day | Edwin E. Slosson

British Dictionary definitions for laver (1 of 3)

laver¹

/ (ˈleɪvə) /

noun

Old Testament a large basin of water used by the priests for ritual ablutions
the font or the water of baptism

Origin of laver

C14: from Old French laveoir, from Late Latin lavātōrium washing place

British Dictionary definitions for laver (2 of 3)

laver²

/ (ˈlɑːvə) /

noun

any of several seaweeds of the genus Porphyra and related genera, with edible fronds: phylum Rhodophyta (red algae)

Origin of laver

C16: from Latin

British Dictionary definitions for Laver (3 of 3)

Laver

/ (ˈleɪvə) /

noun

Rod (ney) (George). born 1938, Australian tennis player: won eleven Grand Slam singles titles (1960–69), including all four in a single year twice (1962, 1969)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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