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toilet

n. · v.
US //ˈtɔɪɫət// UK //tˈɔɪlət// toi·let
  1. 1 the fixture (n.)
    A1 Beginner

    the large bowl in a bathroom that you use to get rid of waste from your body.

    a plumbing fixture used for urination and defecation, typically consisting of a bowl and a water-flushing mechanism.

    Example

    Don't forget to flush the toilet after you use it.

    Example

    The plumber explained that the ceramic toilet had a hairline crack near the base, which was causing the slow leak onto the floor tiles.
  2. 2 the room (n.)
    A1 Beginner British English

    a small room that contains a toilet.

    a room or enclosed area containing a toilet fixture; often used in British English where American English prefers 'restroom' or 'bathroom'.

    Example

    He asked the waiter where the toilets were located.

    Example

    The restaurant's toilets were located down a narrow flight of stairs, making them difficult to access for customers with limited mobility.

    Usage

    In British English, 'toilet' is the standard word for the room, whereas in American English it refers specifically to the porcelain fixture.
    Pitfall
    Where is the toilet?
    Where is the restroom?

    In American English, asking for the 'toilet' can sound too direct or slightly impolite; 'restroom' or 'bathroom' is preferred in public or social settings.

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  1. 3 a dirty place (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    a very dirty, messy, or unpleasant place.

    a figurative extension referring to a location perceived as exceptionally filthy, dilapidated, or socially undesirable.

    Example

    The old bus station was a complete toilet and smelled terrible.

    Example

    After years of neglect by the landlord, the once-elegant apartment building had turned into a literal toilet, with broken windows and piles of rubbish in the lobby.
  2. 4 personal grooming (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Archaic Literary

    the process of washing, dressing, and fixing your hair.

    the act or process of dressing and grooming oneself; historically used to describe a lady's morning routine.

    Example

    The queen spent two hours at her toilet before the ball began.

    Example

    In the eighteenth century, a noblewoman's toilet was a lengthy social affair involving several servants and the application of elaborate powders and perfumes.
  3. 5 to assist with bathroom needs (v.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Medicine

    to help a child or a sick person use the bathroom.

    to assist a dependent person, such as an infant or a patient, in the act of urination or defecation.

    Example

    The nurse had to toilet the patient every four hours.

    Example

    The care plan requires staff to toilet the residents regularly to maintain their comfort and prevent skin irritation.

    Usage

    This transitive use is primarily found in medical, caregiving, or childcare contexts.

Origin

From Middle French toilette, diminutive of toile (“cloth”), from their use to protect clothing while shaving or arranging hair. From its use as a private room, toilet came to refer euphemistically to lavatories and then to its fixtures, beginning in the United States in the late 19th century.

Idioms1 entry

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