lather

¹

[ lath-er ]

noun

1. foam or froth made by a detergent, especially soap, when stirred or rubbed in water, as by a brush used in shaving or by hands in washing.
2. foam or froth formed in profuse sweating, as on a horse.
3. Informal. a state of excitement, agitation, nervous tension, or the like:

   He was in a lather over my delay.

verb (used without object)

1. to form a lather:

   a soap that lathers well.

2. to become covered with lather, as a horse.

verb (used with object)

1. to apply lather to; cover with lather:

   He lathered his face before shaving.

2. Informal. to beat or whip.

lather

²

[ lath-er, lah-ther ]

noun

1. a worker who puts up laths.

lather

/ ˈlɑːðə; ˈlæ- /

noun

1. foam or froth formed by the action of soap or a detergent in water
2. foam formed by other liquid, such as the sweat of a horse
3. informal.
   a state of agitation or excitement

verb

1. to coat or become coated with lather
2. intr to form a lather

Derived Forms

• ˈlathery, adjective

Other Words From

• lather·er noun
• un·lathered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of lather¹

before 950; Middle English; Old English lēathor soap; cognate with Old Norse lauthr ( Icelandic löthur ) lather, foam

Origin of lather²

lath + -er ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of lather¹

Old English lēathor soap; related to Old Norse lauthr foam

Idioms and Phrases

see in a lather .

Example Sentences

Before the pandemic and only a few years into fatherhood, Zuck livestreamed himself on Facebook in a purple T-shirt and Supercuts-quality haircut smoking meats with his buddies, during which he repeatedly, obsessively mentioned that he was going to lather barbecue ribs and brisket with Sweet Baby Ray’s sauce.

From Slate

Trump tends to be more oblique on this front, but he frequently works himself into a lather over defending slave-owners against those who keep saying slavery was a bad thing.

From Salon

“Soap doesn’t lather as well with hard water,” said Campbell.

From Los Angeles Times

A viral clip of the towering 6-foot-7 tackle simply crossing the street to USC’s practice field was enough this week to work Pat McAfee and his corner of the social mediasphere into a lather.

From Los Angeles Times

“Soap doesn’t lather as well with hard water,” said Campbell.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• froth