lathe

[ leyth ]

noun

1. a machine for use in working wood, metal, etc., that holds the material and rotates it about a horizontal axis against a tool that shapes it.

verb (used with object)

, lathed, lath·ing.

1. to cut, shape, or otherwise treat on a lathe.

lathe

¹

/ leɪð /

noun

1. history any of the former administrative divisions of Kent

lathe

²

/ leɪð /

noun

1. a machine for shaping, boring, facing, or cutting a screw thread in metal, wood, etc, in which the workpiece is turned about a horizontal axis against a fixed tool

verb

1. tr to shape, bore, or cut a screw thread in or on (a workpiece) on a lathe

Word History and Origins

Origin of lathe¹

1300–50; Middle English: frame, stand, lathe; compare Old Norse hlath stack ( lade ), Danish -lad in væverlad weaver's batten, savelad saw bench

Word History and Origins

Origin of lathe¹

Old English læth district

Origin of lathe²

perhaps C15 lath a support, of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Danish lad lathe, Old English hlæd heap

Example Sentences

Bob chats against the buzzing backdrop of whirring industrial tools and woodwork machines in the next room - a laser cutter, bandsaw, lathe and a 3D printer among them.

From BBC

Customers in Uganda want more tools and equipment, including lathes and water pumps.

From Seattle Times

To do the work, the team used a large lathe to spin a detached brake rotor and caliper.

From Science Daily

Autumn, who has been working on a machine that resembles a large lathe — a ringer, which generates telephone rings — passes De Jaen and the rectifier.

From Seattle Times

The workrooms contained metal lathes, hand tools and grey casings, but it was not possible to verify what had been made there.

From Reuters

Related Words

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