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lather
(lat̸h′ər)
noun
- the foam or froth formed by soap or other detergent in water
- foamy sweat, as that on a racehorse
- ☆ Slang an excited or agitated state
Origin: ME < OE leathor, washing soda or soap, akin to ON lauthr, washing soda, foam < IE *loutro- < base *lou-, to lave
transitive verb
- to cover with lather
- Informal to flog soundly
intransitive verb
to form, or become covered with, lather
See lather in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
- A foam formed by soap or detergent agitated in water, as in washing or shaving.
- Froth formed by profuse sweating, as on a horse.
- Informal A condition of anxious or heated discomposure; agitation: The students were in a lather over the proposed restrictions.
- To spread with or as if with lather.
- Informal To give a beating to; whip.
- To produce lather; foam.
- To become coated with lather.
Origin:
Origin: Probably from Middle English latheren, to wash or soak clothes
Origin: , from Old English lēthran, to cover with lather; see leu(ə)- in Indo-European roots
.Related Forms:
- lathˈer·er noun
- lathˈer·y adjective
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