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laver

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laver¹

  • /ˈlɑːvə/ UK
  • /ˈleɪvə/ UK
  • /ˈleɪvɚ/ US
  • /ˈlɑvɚ/ US

Sounds like lava, larva (non-rhotic, with the "broad a" pronunciation) · Rhymes with -ɑːvə(ɹ), -eɪvə(ɹ)

Where it comes from

From Middle English laver, lavre, lever, levre, laber (“a kind of water plant”), from Old English læfer, leber (“a rush (plant)”), a borrowing from Latin laver (“water plant”).

noun lavers

  1. countable, uncountable A red alga/seaweed, Porphyra umbilicalis (syn. Porphyra laciniata), eaten as a vegetable. To roast a leg, haunch, or saddle of mutton. […] A modern refinement is to put laver in the dripping-pan, which, in basting, imparts a high gout; or a large saddle may be served over a pound and a half of laver, stewed in brown sauce with catsup and seasonings.
  2. countable, uncountable Other seaweeds similar in appearance or use, especially
  3. countable, uncountable Porphyra vulgaris

laver²

  • /ˈleɪvə/ UK
  • /ˈleɪvɚ/ US

Rhymes with -eɪvə(ɹ)

Where it comes from

From Middle English laver, lavour, from Old French laveoir, laveor, laveour, lavor, lavur, from Latin lavātōrium. Doublet of lavatorium and lavatory.

noun lavers

  1. Where one laves, a washroom, particularly a lavatorium, the washing area in a monastery.
  2. That which laves, particularly a washbasin. Infinit streames continually did well / Out of this fountaine, sweet and faire to see, / The which into an ample lauer fell […]

    Similar: washbasin

  3. The spiritual washing or ablution of baptism. She was afterwards regenerated by the laver of holy baptism, and lived for many years in the service of that knight (as I have frequently heard from him and his family), and was rather loose and wanton in her conduct.

laver³

  • /ˈleɪvə/ UK
  • /ˈleɪvɚ/ US

Rhymes with -eɪvə(ɹ)

noun lavers

  1. One who laves: a washer.

Laver⁴

Where it comes from

Occupational surname for a washerman, from Anglo-Norman laver.

proper noun Lavers

  1. A surname from Anglo-Norman.

Laver⁵

proper noun Lavar · Lavehr

  1. A village in Iran, known for its Kerman carpets.

Translations

Every language

noun Porphyra umbilicalis

한국어김 gim, 파래 parae
DeutschNabel-Purpurtang, Purpurtang, Hauttang, Nabel-Hauttang

noun a washroom; lavatorium

DeutschWaschraum, Brunnenhaus, Lavatorium

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Cite this
MLA

"laver." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/laver. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

laver. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/laver

Chicago

"laver." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/laver.

BibTeX
@misc{laver_2026,
  title = {laver},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/laver},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}