mass noun
1- a frothy white mass of bubbles produced by soap, washing powder, or similar cleansing substance when mixed with water（肥皂、洗衣粉等的）泡沫。
1.1
- heavy sweat visible on a horse's coat as a white foam（马）汗沫。
1.2
- a lather informal a state of agitation or nervous excitement〈非正式〉焦躁, 激动：
Dad had got into a right lather by the time I got home.
我到家时爸爸已经是十分焦躁。
with obj.
1
- cause (soap) to form a frothy white mass of bubbles when mixed with water使（肥皂）起泡沫。
1.1
- no obj.(of soap, washing powder, or a similar cleansing substance) form a frothy white mass of bubbles in such a way（肥皂、洗衣粉等）起泡沫：
soap will not lather in hard water.
肥皂在硬水中不起泡。
1.2
- rub soap on to (a part of the body) until a lather is produced（往身体上）擦肥皂：
she was lathering herself languidly beneath the shower
她在淋浴器下懒洋洋地擦肥皂
no obj. he lathered and started to shave.他抹了肥皂, 开始刮脸。
1.3
- cause (a horse) to become covered with sweat使（马）出汗：
his horse was lathered up by the end of the day.
这天快完时, 他的马全身汗透了。
1.4
lather something with
cover something liberally with (a substance)用（材料）厚厚涂抹：she lathered a slice of toast with butter.
她在一片烤面包上抹了好些黄油。
1.5
lather something on
spread a substance liberally on厚厚涂抹：we lathered the cream on our scones.
我们在烤饼上涂了好些奶油。
2
- informal thrash (someone)〈非正式〉痛打（某人）。
派生词
lathery
adjective词源
Old English læthor (denoting washing soda or its froth)， lēthran (verb)， of Germanic origin; related to Old Norse lauthr (noun)， from an Indo-European root shared by Greek loutron 'bath'.