lather Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the froth produced by soaps or detergents
    soapsuds; suds.
  2. noun agitation resulting from active worry
    swither; sweat; stew; fret.
    • don't get in a stew
    • he's in a sweat about exams
  3. noun a workman who puts up laths
  4. noun the foam resulting from excessive sweating (as on a horse)
  5. verb beat severely with a whip or rod
    trounce; strap; welt; whip; slash; lash; flog.
    • The teacher often flogged the students
    • The children were severely trounced
  6. verb form a lather
    • The shaving cream lathered
  7. verb exude sweat or lather
    • this unfit horse lathers easily
  8. verb rub soap all over, usually with the purpose of cleaning
    soap.

WordNet

Lath"er noun
Etymology
AS. leá&edh;or niter, in leá&edh;orwyrt soapwort; cf. Icel. laur; perh. akin to E. lye.
Definitions
  1. Foam or froth made by soap moistened with water.
  2. Foam from profuse sweating, as of a horse.
Lath"er transitive verb
Etymology
AS. le&edh;rian to lather, anoint. See Lather, n.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Lathered ; present participle & verbal noun Lathering
Definitions
  1. To spread over with lather; as, to lather the face.
Lath"er intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To form lather, or a froth like lather; to accumulate foam from profuse sweating, as a horse.
Lath"er transitive verb
Etymology
Cf. Leather.
Definitions
  1. To beat severely with a thong, strap, or the like; to flog. Low

Webster 1913