# lather

/ˈɫæðɝ/ (US) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lather
Updated: 2026-05-30

## Definition

a thick, soapy foam that you get when you rub soap or shampoo into your skin or hair.

For teachers: a thick, frothy mass of soap and water produced by agitation. Often used in the context of personal hygiene or industrial cleaning.

## Examples

- He rubbed the soap until his hands were full of lather.
- The mechanic used a high-pressure sprayer to create a thick lather before washing the car.
- The chef found that the eggs whipped much more easily once the lather from the previous dishwashing had been rinsed away from the stainless steel bowl.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.