lather

/ˈlæðər/

/ˈlæðə/

Other forms: lathered; lathering; lathers

A lather is the froth soaps and detergents produce. Lathering also means to soap yourself up, and a lather can be a state of extreme agitation.

When you're taking a shower, you make the soap frothy: this is a lather, and you're lathering when you create it. Rubbing soap on your body is also called lathering. Since lather is a stirred-up form of soap, it can also apply to emotions that have been stirred up. Someone upset is in a lather. Getting in a lather usually results from worry or anger, and it's an unpleasant state of mind.

Definitions of lather

1. noun

   the froth produced by soaps or detergents
   synonyms: soapsuds, suds

   types:

   shaving cream, shaving soap

   toiletry consisting of a preparation of soap and fatty acids that forms a rich lather for softening the beard before shaving

   type of:

   foam, froth

   a mass of small bubbles formed in or on a liquid
2. noun

   the foam resulting from excessive sweating (as on a horse)
   type of:

   foam, froth

   a mass of small bubbles formed in or on a liquid
3. verb

   form a lather
   “The shaving cream lathered”

   type of:

   effervesce, fizz, foam, form bubbles, froth, sparkle

   become bubbly or frothy or foaming
4. verb

   exude sweat or lather
   “this unfit horse lathers easily”

   type of:

   froth

   exude or expel foam
5. verb

   rub soap all over, usually with the purpose of cleaning
   synonyms: soap

   type of:

   clean, cleanse

   clean one's body or parts thereof, as by washing
6. noun

   agitation resulting from active worry
   synonyms: fret, stew, sweat, swither

   type of:

   agitation

   a mental state of extreme emotional disturbance
7. noun

   a workman who puts up laths
   type of:

   working man, working person, workingman, workman

   an employee who performs manual or industrial labor
8. verb

   beat severely with a whip or rod
   synonyms: flog, lash, slash, strap, trounce, welt, whip

   types:

   flagellate, scourge

   whip

   leather

   whip with a leather strap

   horsewhip

   whip with a whip intended for horses

   switch

   flog with or as if with a flexible rod

   cowhide

   flog with a cowhide

   cat

   beat with a cat-o'-nine-tails

   birch

   whip with a birch twig

   type of:

   beat, beat up, work over

   give a beating to; subject to a beating, either as a punishment or as an act of aggression