toilet

American  

[toi-lit] / ˈtɔɪ lɪt /

noun

1. a bathroom fixture consisting of a bowl, usually with a detachable, hinged seat and lid, and a device for flushing with water, used for defecation and urination.

2. a lavatory.

3. a bathroom.

4. toilet bowl.

5. a dressing room, especially one containing a bath.

6. the act or process of dressing or grooming oneself, including bathing and arranging the hair.

   to make one's toilet; busy at her toilet.

7. toilet set.

8. the dress or costume of a person; any particular costume.

   toilet of white silk.

9. Surgery. the cleansing of a part after childbirth or a wound after an operation.

10. Archaic. dressing table.

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idioms

1. go down / in the toilet, to become worthless or profitless; be doomed.

   The team's entire season went down the toilet.

toilet British  

/ ˈtɔɪlɪt /

noun

1. another word for lavatory

2. old-fashioned the act of dressing and preparing oneself

   to make one's toilet

3. old-fashioned a dressing table or the articles used when making one's toilet

4. rare costume

5. the cleansing of a wound, etc, after an operation or childbirth

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Etymology

Origin of toilet

1530–40; < French toilette small cloth, doily, dressing table, equivalent to toile toil ² + -ette -et

Example Sentences

The most common contributing factors are obesity, pregnancy and postpartum changes, constipation and prolonged sitting on the toilet, which is getting lengthier due to cellphone use in the bathroom, Rezaie said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Water availability is intermittent, leaving Cubans sometimes unable to bathe, wash dishes or flush toilets.

From The Wall Street Journal

“We have the best toilet paper in town,” Reiner would assure him.

From The Wall Street Journal

He’s certain the toilets are to blame for her death.

From Salon

“Your husband says he threw his phone in the toilet, is that true?”

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• latrine
• lavatory
• outhouse
• restroom