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   Lath·er

   /ˈlaT͟Hər/

   

   noun

   • 1. a frothy white mass of bubbles produced by soap or a similar cleansing substance when mixed with water: "she rinsed off the lather and dried her hands" Similar foamfrothsudssoapsudsbubblescreamheadliterary:spume
   • ▪ heavy sweat visible on a horse's coat as a white foam. Similar sweatperspirationmoisturetechnical:diaphoresishidrosis
   • 2. a state of agitation or nervous excitement: informal "Larry was worked into a lather and shouted at the mayor" Similar panicnervous statestate of agitationstate of anxietyflusterflutterfretfussfrenzyfeverpotherinformal:flapsweattizzydithertwitterstatestewtwit

   verb

   • 1. (with reference to soap or a similar cleansing substance) form or cause to form a frothy white mass of bubbles: "soap will not lather in hard water"
   • ▪ rub soap onto (a part of the body) until a lather is produced: "she was lathering herself languidly beneath the shower"
   • 2. cover something with liberal amounts of (a substance): "she lathered a slice of toast with butter"
   • 3. (of a horse) be covered with sweat: "the old mare was lathered and I decided it was time for a rest"
   • ▪ (of a person) be hot and sweaty: informal Northern English "It feels like 40C. I'm lathered!"
   • 4. thrash (someone): informal "my mother caught me by the back of the neck and lathered me up the steps"

   Word Origin Old Englishlæthor (denoting washing soda or its froth), lēthran (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Old Norse lauthr (noun), from an Indo-European root shared by Greek loutron ‘bath’.

   Derivatives

   • 1. lathery adjective

   Scrabble Points: 9

   • L

     1

   • A

     1

   • T

     1

   • H

     4

   • E

     1

   • R

     1

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