lather
1 of 2noun
lath·er ˈla-t͟hər 
1
a
: a foam or froth formed when a detergent (such as soap) is agitated in water
b
: foam or froth from profuse sweating (as on a horse)
2
: an agitated or overwrought state : dither
worked himself into a lather
lathery
ˈla-t͟h(ə-)rē
adjective lather
2 of 2verb
lathered; lathering ˈla-t͟h(ə-)riŋ
transitive verb
1
: to spread lather over
2
: to beat severely : flog
intransitive verb
: to form a lather or a froth like lather
latherer
ˈla-t͟hər-ər
noun 
Synonyms
Noun
- foam
- froth
- head
- spume
- suds
- surf
Verb
- bash
- baste
- bat
- batter
- beat
- belabor
- belt
- birch
- bludgeon
- buffet
- bung up
- club
- curry
- do
- drub
- fib [British]
- flog
- hammer
- hide
- lace
- lambaste
- lambast
- lash
- lick
- maul
- mess (up)
- paddle
- pelt
- pommel
- pound
- pummel
- punch out
- rough (up)
- slate
- slog
- switch
- tan
- thrash
- thresh
- thump
- tromp
- wallop
- whale
- whip
- whop
- whap
- whup
- work over
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun The soap and water formed a lot of lather. The soap and water formed a lather. Verb He lathered his face before shaving. the farmer lathered the recalcitrant mule
Recent Examples on the Web
Jamie Wilson, Harper's BAZAAR, 31 Aug. 2022 Coupled with its conditioner, this shampoo's scent, lather and rinse impressed our panel of testers. Jacqueline Saguin, Good Housekeeping, 31 Aug. 2022 The rich and woodsy smell of cedarwood, sandalwood, and eucalyptus, along with amazing texture and lather, are just bonuses to make sure this soap finds its way into your shower. Grooming Playbook, The Salt Lake Tribune, 7 June 2022 This body wash provides a rich lather that works to clean and moisturize the skin simultaneously. Grooming Playbook, The Salt Lake Tribune, 3 June 2022 There’s something undeniably satisfying about the foaming lather that works up from this gel formula. Lindsay Colameo, Peoplemag, 17 Aug. 2022 Fans have lined up to admire Elvis Presley’s countless belongings for decades, but worked up quite a lather over $5,000 Springsteen tickets. Barry Mazor, WSJ, 10 Aug. 2022 In short, sulfates are what create that shampoo-y lather. Lindy Segal, Harper's BAZAAR, 4 Aug. 2022 So circle ‘round the campfire, lather on the DEET, and lean in close. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 24 July 2022 Emily Burns, ELLE, 31 Aug. 2022 In the Western world, our standard operating procedure is to lather up with shampoo in the shower, then rinse it out. Megan Decker, refinery29.com, 22 Aug. 2022 Gently lather the cleanser on your face by moving fingers in smooth circles. Grooming Playbook, The Salt Lake Tribune, 24 May 2022 Rub the shampoo bar directly onto your wet hair, then massage the shampoo through your roots to lather it and dissolve oil and dirt. Chiara Butler, Good Housekeeping, 29 June 2022 Easy Daily Shampoo is a sulfate-free shampoo that manages to luxuriously lather. Grooming Playbook, The Salt Lake Tribune, 2 June 2022 Simply lather up and say goodbye to irritation and dryness. Grooming Playbook, The Salt Lake Tribune, 17 May 2022 Rent from any of the various sports equipment centers in town, lather up with sunscreen, and float down the crystal clear river where alpine vistas are always just around the bend. Elise Taylor, Vogue, 11 May 2022 Simply massage the bar directly onto your head and face, lather up, and experience the magic. Grooming Playbook, The Salt Lake Tribune, 9 May 2022 See More
Noun
Loofah sponges are known for creating a nice lather, as well as gently buffing away dead skin, leaving you with a super-smooth feel. Jamie Wilson, Harper's BAZAAR, 31 Aug. 2022 Coupled with its conditioner, this shampoo's scent, lather and rinse impressed our panel of testers. Jacqueline Saguin, Good Housekeeping, 31 Aug. 2022 The rich and woodsy smell of cedarwood, sandalwood, and eucalyptus, along with amazing texture and lather, are just bonuses to make sure this soap finds its way into your shower. Grooming Playbook, The Salt Lake Tribune, 7 June 2022 This body wash provides a rich lather that works to clean and moisturize the skin simultaneously. Grooming Playbook, The Salt Lake Tribune, 3 June 2022 There’s something undeniably satisfying about the foaming lather that works up from this gel formula. Lindsay Colameo, Peoplemag, 17 Aug. 2022 Fans have lined up to admire Elvis Presley’s countless belongings for decades, but worked up quite a lather over $5,000 Springsteen tickets. Barry Mazor, WSJ, 10 Aug. 2022 In short, sulfates are what create that shampoo-y lather. Lindy Segal, Harper's BAZAAR, 4 Aug. 2022 So circle ‘round the campfire, lather on the DEET, and lean in close. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 24 July 2022 Verb
When in the shower, lather up your shampoo and massage with one of these tools to exfoliate and remove debris. Emily Burns, ELLE, 31 Aug. 2022 In the Western world, our standard operating procedure is to lather up with shampoo in the shower, then rinse it out. Megan Decker, refinery29.com, 22 Aug. 2022 Gently lather the cleanser on your face by moving fingers in smooth circles. Grooming Playbook, The Salt Lake Tribune, 24 May 2022 Rub the shampoo bar directly onto your wet hair, then massage the shampoo through your roots to lather it and dissolve oil and dirt. Chiara Butler, Good Housekeeping, 29 June 2022 Easy Daily Shampoo is a sulfate-free shampoo that manages to luxuriously lather. Grooming Playbook, The Salt Lake Tribune, 2 June 2022 Simply lather up and say goodbye to irritation and dryness. Grooming Playbook, The Salt Lake Tribune, 17 May 2022 Rent from any of the various sports equipment centers in town, lather up with sunscreen, and float down the crystal clear river where alpine vistas are always just around the bend. Elise Taylor, Vogue, 11 May 2022 Simply massage the bar directly onto your head and face, lather up, and experience the magic. Grooming Playbook, The Salt Lake Tribune, 9 May 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English *lather, from Old English lēathor; akin to Latin lavere to wash — more at lye
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Phrases Containing lather
Kids Definition
lather 1 of 2
noun
lath·er ˈla-t͟hər
1
: the foam made by stirring soap and water together
2
: foam from sweating (as on a horse)
lather
2 of 2verb
lathered; lathering
1
: to spread soapy foam over
He lathered his hair.
2
: to form a foam
This soap lathers well.
lathering
verb
as in licking
to strike repeatedly the farmer lathered the recalcitrant mule Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- licking
- lashing
- whipping
- pounding
- pelting
- slapping
- hiding
- doing
- beating
- battering
- spanking
- chopping
- tanning
- hitting
- slamming
- attacking
- knocking
- punching
- assaulting
- thumping
- smashing
- batting
- paddling
- mauling
- smacking
- bashing
- currying
- pummeling
- thrashing
- whacking
- switching
- hammering
- buffeting
- flogging
- lambasting
- belting
- basting
- bludgeoning
- walloping
- slating
- pummelling
- swiping
- raiding
- lacing
- clubbing
- drubbing
- slogging
- fibbing
- whapping
- punching out
- storming
- tromping
- belaboring
- whupping
- thwacking
- birching
- boxing
- cracking
- working over
- whopping
- strapping
- flagellating
- swatting
- whaling
- socking
- pommelling
- threshing
- rushing
- beating up on
- pasting
- pommeling
- leathering
- clobbering
- bunging up
- wounding
- assailing
- cuffing
- lamming
- cudgeling
- busting
- caning
- scourging
- roughing (up)
- cudgelling
- whamming
- clouting
- lacerating
- messing (up)
- mangling
- mutilating
- besetting
- laying on
- whomping
- horsewhipping
- goring
- pistol-whipping
- maiming
- rawhiding
- cowhiding
- blackjacking
- descending (on or upon)
- fustigating
- jumping (on)
- pouncing (on or upon)
