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# lavatory

noun (a lavatory, lavatories)

«lavatory» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A lavatory is a toilet: the bowl you use to get rid of waste from your body. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lavatory/#m1)
2. A lavatory is a room or small building with a toilet in it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lavatory/#m2)
3. It is a polite and slightly formal or old-fashioned word, used on signs, in planes and trains. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lavatory/#m3)

### In the lessons

In everyday life it appears on signs in planes, trains and public buildings; people use it as a polite word instead of «toilet». Many other words exist: loo (UK, informal), bathroom and restroom (US), dunny (Australia, slang), toilet. Phrases: public lavatory, go to the lavatory, lavatory paper.

### Examples

- Excuse me, where is the lavatory? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lavatory/#x1)
- The lavatory on the train was out of order. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lavatory/#x2)
- Please wash your hands after using the lavatory. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lavatory/#x3)
- The aeroplane has two lavatories at the back. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lavatory/#x4)
- There's a public lavatory next to the park. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lavatory/#x5)
- Grandma always calls the toilet «the lavatory». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lavatory/#x6)
- The sign said: «Lavatory occupied». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lavatory/#x7)

### Note

Countable: a lavatory, lavatories (y → ies). Say: LAV-a-tor-ee. It is a polite word, often a euphemism for «toilet». Short informal forms: lav, lavvy (UK). Americans more often say «bathroom» or «restroom». Do not confuse with «laboratory» (a science lab).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «lavatory» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lavatory/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«lavatory» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/lavatory.html) on Mova free.