the toilet

toilet

toi‧let S2 /ˈtɔɪlət, ˈtɔɪlɪt/ BrE AmE noun
[Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: toilette 'cloth put around the shoulders while arranging the hair or shaving, toilette, toilet', from toile 'net, cloth', from Latin tela 'something woven']

1. [countable] a large bowl that you sit on to get rid of waste liquid or waste matter from your body:
He flushed the toilet (=pulled the handle so that water ran into the toilet to clean it).
2. [countable] British English a room or building containing a toilet SYN bathroom, restroom American English:
public toilets
3. go to the toilet especially British English to pass waste liquid or waste matter from your body:
Mummy, I need to go to the toilet!
4. [uncountable] old-fashioned the act of washing and dressing yourself:
She finished her toilet.
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COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ go to the toilet (also use the toilet especially British English) He got up to go to the toilet in the middle of the night.
▪ need the toilet British English (=need to use the toilet) Does anyone need the toilet before we set off?
▪ flush the toilet (=make water go through it to clean it) I heard someone flush the toilet.
■ adjectives
▪ a public toilet especially British English He set off across the square in search of a public toilet.
▪ a disabled toilet British English (=one for disabled people) Is there a disabled toilet?
▪ an outside toilet (=one that is outside a house, not in it) The house was small, with no hot water and an outside toilet.
▪ an indoor toilet Many cottages lacked a bathroom or indoor toilet.
■ toilet + NOUN
▪ toilet facilities Toilet facilities are available at the bus station.
▪ the toilet seat He always left the toilet seat up.
▪ the toilet bowl She was scrubbing the toilet bowl.
■ COMMON ERRORS
► Do not say 'go to toilet'. Say go to the toilet.
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THESAURUS
▪ toilet British English a room with a toilet in it, in someone’s house or in a public place: He locked himself in the toilet. | the public toilets
▪ bathroom a room with a toilet in it, in someone’s house. In British English, bathroom is used especially when you want to be polite. In American English, it is the usual word to use: He asked to use the bathroom.
▪ restroom American English a room in a public place that has one or more toilets in it: She went into the store to use the restroom.
▪ lavatory formal a room with a toilet in it. In American English lavatory is used mainly for toilets in a public building or on a plane. In British English it is used both about public toilets and toilets in people’s houses: public lavatories | He didn’t have time to visit the lavatory.
▪ loo British English informal, john American English informal a room with a toilet in it. Loo is very common in everyday spoken British English: ‘Where’s Chris?’ ‘He’s in the loo.’ | Can I use your loo? | Where’s the john?
▪ bog British English informal a very informal word for a toilet, which is not considered polite: The nearest bog was miles away.
▪ the ladies British English, the ladies’ room American English a public toilet for women: Where’s the ladies? | I need to go to the ladies’ room.
▪ the gents British English, the men’s room American English a public toilet for men: I followed him into the gents. | I’ve got to go to the men’s room. Excuse me.
▪ latrine an outdoor toilet in a camp or military area: The latrines were in a shocking state.
▪ urinal a type of toilet for men that is attached to a wall: He was standing at the urinal.
▪ potty a bowl that babies use as a toilet: Does he need his potty?
▪ commode a chair with a bowl in it, used as a toilet, especially in hospitals and homes for old people: She has to use a commode.
▪ bedpan a container which is used as a toilet, especially in hospitals by people who are too ill or weak to get out of bed: I had to change the bedpans.