lavatory

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the standard word in the early part of the 20th century for a receptacle for urination and defecation (and the room containing it), has tended to give way to alternatives such as loo (the usual middle-class word) and toilet (still non-U but the word mostly used in official contexts, on notices, etc.). See also U and non-U; toilet.

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1. A basin with water supply and drainage piping, for washing the hands and face; a washbasin.
2. A room containing a washbasin and a water closet, but not a bathtub; a “powder room.”
3. Same as toilet, 2 or

lavabo: Abbey of Valmagne

water closet, 2. 4. A small stone basin with a hole at the bottom to carry off water through a drain beneath; usually placed near the altar in an ancient church; used by the priest for washing his hands.

lavatory, 1

lavatory, 4

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IN BRIEF: n. - A toilet that is cleaned of waste by the flow of water through it; A room or building equipped with one or more toilets; A bathroom sink that is permanently installed and connected to a water supply and drainpipe.

Tutor's tip: Not the innovated instruments nor the diversity of specimen pleased the scientist more than the "lavatory" (washroom) of his new "laboratory" (room equipped for scientific research).

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For a list of words related to lavatory, see:

• Plumbing, Heating, and the Bathroom - lavatory: toilet; bathroom

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See words rhyming with "lavatory."

  See crossword solutions for the clue Lavatory.

Common misspelling(s) of lavatory

• labatory

Dansk (Danish)
n. - toilet, wc, badeværelse, vaskerum

Nederlands (Dutch)
wc, wasplaats, waskom

Français (French)
n. - toilettes

Deutsch (German)
n. - WC, Toilette

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - αποχωρητήριο, τουαλέτα

Italiano (Italian)
gabinetto

Português (Portuguese)
n. - lavatório (m)

Русский (Russian)
туалет

Español (Spanish)
n. - servicios, excusado, lavabo, retrete, cuarto de baño

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - toalett, W.C., tvättställ, tvättfat

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
厕所, 洗手间, 盥洗室

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 廁所, 洗手間, 盥洗室

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 세면소 , 변소

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 洗面所, 化粧室, 洗面台

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) مرحاض‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮שירותים, בית שימוש‬

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