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.
• • •
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 .
• • •
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.