toilet

[ toi-lit ]

noun

1. a bathroom fixture consisting of a bowl, usually with a detachable, hinged seat and lid, and a device for flushing with water, used for defecation and urination.
2. a lavatory.
3. a bathroom.
4. toilet bowl.
5. a dressing room, especially one containing a bath.
6. the act or process of dressing or grooming oneself, including bathing and arranging the hair:

   to make one's toilet; busy at her toilet.

7. toilet set.
8. the dress or costume of a person; any particular costume:

   toilet of white silk.

9. Surgery. the cleansing of a part after childbirth or a wound after an operation.
10. Archaic. dressing table.

toilet

/ ˈtɔɪlɪt /

noun

1. another word for lavatory
2. old-fashioned.
   the act of dressing and preparing oneself

   to make one's toilet

3. old-fashioned.
   a dressing table or the articles used when making one's toilet
4. rare.
   costume
5. the cleansing of a wound, etc, after an operation or childbirth

Word History and Origins

Origin of toilet¹

1530–40; < French toilette small cloth, doily, dressing table, equivalent to toile toil ² + -ette -et

Word History and Origins

Origin of toilet¹

C16: from French toilette dress, from toile

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. go down / in the toilet, to become worthless or profitless; be doomed:

   The team's entire season went down the toilet.

Example Sentences

"This has been an ongoing issue for quite some time now. It’s a basic human right to go to the toilet," she claimed.

From BBC

He’s balanced 101 rolls of toilet paper on his head.

From NewsForKids.net

But great adventures come with their own challenges – where does a twitcher go to the toilet for instance?

From BBC

The review, which focused on the period from 2008 to 2020, came after several gymnasts spoke out about bullying - with allegations of athletes being punished for needing the toilet.

From BBC

Vault toilets, trash and recycling services are available at the nearby El Capitan picnic area.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• latrine
• lavatory
• outhouse
• restroom