v., laved, lav·ing, laves. v.tr.
- To wash; bathe.
- To lap or wash against.
- To refresh or soothe as if by washing: "The quiet and the cool laved her" (Edna Ferber).
To wash oneself.
[Middle English laven, from Old English gelafian and from Old French laver, both from Latin lavāre.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
