lau

See also: Appendix:Variations of "lau"

English

Verb

lau (third-person singular simple present laus, present participle lauing, simple past and past participle laued)

1. (Polari) To place upon; to put down onto.

Anagrams

• Ula, Lua, Aul, UAL, aul, -ual, ULA, LUA, ALU, alu

Aromanian

Alternative forms

• alau

Etymology

From Latin lavō. Compare Romanian la, lau.

Verb

lau first-singular present indicative (third-person singular present indicative la, past participle latã)

1. to wash
2. (reflexive, mi-lau) to wash oneself

Synonyms

• spel, aspel

Related terms

• lari/lare
• lat
• spel

See also

• ascaldu
• culimbisescu

Basque

Basque numbers ^(edit)

	40
←  3	4	5  →
Cardinal: lau     Ordinal: laugarren     Multiplier: laukoitz     Distributive: launa     Collective: laukote     Fractional: laurden

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /lau̯/ [lau̯]

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -au̯
• Hyphenation: lau

Etymology 1

From Proto-Basque *lanu, from Latin plānum.

Adjective

lau (comparative lauago, superlative lauen, excessive lauegi)

1. flat, level
2. plain, simple

Declension

Declension of lau (adjective, ending in vowel)

		indefinite	singular	plural
absolutive		lau	laua	lauak
ergative		lauk	lauak	lauek
dative		lauri	lauari	lauei
genitive		lauren	lauaren	lauen
comitative		laurekin	lauarekin	lauekin
causative		laurengatik	lauarengatik	lauengatik
benefactive		laurentzat	lauarentzat	lauentzat
instrumental		lauz	lauaz	lauez
inessive	anim	laurengan	lauarengan	lauengan
	inan	lautan	lauan	lauetan
locative	anim	—	—	—
	inan	lautako	lauko	lauetako
allative	anim	laurengana	lauarengana	lauengana
	inan	lautara	laura	lauetara
terminative	anim	laurenganaino	lauarenganaino	lauenganaino
	inan	lautaraino	lauraino	lauetaraino
directive	anim	laurenganantz	lauarenganantz	lauenganantz
	inan	lautarantz	laurantz	lauetarantz
destinative	anim	laurenganako	lauarenganako	lauenganako
	inan	lautarako	laurako	lauetarako
ablative	anim	laurengandik	lauarengandik	lauengandik
	inan	lautatik	lautik	lauetatik
partitive		laurik	—	—
prolative		lautzat	—	—

Adverb

lau (comparative lauago, superlative lauen, excessive lauegi)

1. simply

Noun

lau inan

1. plain (an open, grassy, mostly treeless land)

Declension

Declension of lau (inanimate, ending in vowel)

	indefinite	singular	plural
absolutive	lau	laua	lauak
ergative	lauk	lauak	lauek
dative	lauri	lauari	lauei
genitive	lauren	lauaren	lauen
comitative	laurekin	lauarekin	lauekin
causative	laurengatik	lauarengatik	lauengatik
benefactive	laurentzat	lauarentzat	lauentzat
instrumental	lauz	lauaz	lauez
inessive	lautan	lauan	lauetan
locative	lautako	lauko	lauetako
allative	lautara	laura	lauetara
terminative	lautaraino	lauraino	lauetaraino
directive	lautarantz	laurantz	lauetarantz
destinative	lautarako	laurako	lauetarako
ablative	lautatik	lautik	lauetatik
partitive	laurik	—	—
prolative	lautzat	—	—

Etymology 2

From Proto-Basque *lauR (“four”). Often compared with Iberian laur (“four”) and Aquitanian *laur-, present in numerous compounds, such as *laurco, *laurina and in the toponym *Laureiereta (“Four Mills”). Possibly related to labur.

Numeral

lau

1. four

Usage notes

The declension of the plural forms changes when used as a pronoun. This is not currently reflected in the table below.

Declension

Declension of lau (numeral, ending in vowel)

		indefinite	singular	plural
absolutive		lau	laua	lauak, laurak
ergative		lauk	lauak	lauek, laurek
dative		lauri	lauari	lauei, laurei
genitive		lauren	lauaren	lauen, lauren
comitative		laurekin	lauarekin	lauekin, laurekin
causative		laurengatik	lauarengatik	lauengatik, laurengatik
benefactive		laurentzat	lauarentzat	lauentzat, laurentzat
instrumental		lauez, laurez	lauaz	lauez, laurez
inessive	anim	laurengan	lauarengan	lauengan, laurengan
	inan	lautan	lauan	lauetan, lauretan
locative	anim	—	—	—
	inan	lautako	lauko	lauetako, lauretako
allative	anim	laurengana	lauarengana	lauengana, laurengana
	inan	lautara	laura	lauetara, lauretara
terminative	anim	laurenganaino	lauarenganaino	lauenganaino, laurenganaino
	inan	lautaraino	lauraino	lauetaraino, lauretaraino
directive	anim	laurenganantz	lauarenganantz	lauenganantz, laurenganantz
	inan	lautarantz	laurantz	lauetarantz, lauretarantz
destinative	anim	laurenganako	lauarenganako	lauenganako, laurenganako
	inan	lautarako	laurako	lauetarako, lauretarako
ablative	anim	laurengandik	lauarengandik	lauengandik, laurengandik
	inan	lautatik	lautik	lauetatik, lauretatik
partitive		laurik	—	—
prolative		lautzat	—	—

Further reading

• “lau”, in Euskaltzaindiaren Hiztegia [Dictionary of the Basque Academy] (in Basque), Euskaltzaindia [Royal Academy of the Basque Language]
• “lau”, in Orotariko Euskal Hiztegia [General Basque Dictionary], Euskaltzaindia, 1987–2005

Esperanto

Preposition

lau

1. H-system spelling of laŭ

Franco-Provençal

Noun

lau (Old Bressan, Old Dauphinois)

1. alternative form of lèc (“lake”)

References

• Walther von Wartburg (1928–2002) “lacus”, in Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, volume 5: J L, page 126

German

Etymology

From Middle High German lā (inflected lāwe), from Old High German lāo, from Proto-West Germanic *hlāu, from Proto-Germanic *hlēwaz. Cognate with Dutch lauw. Also related to English lukewarm.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /laʊ̯/
• Rhymes: -aʊ̯

• Audio:

  (file)

Adjective

lau (strong nominative masculine singular lauer, comparative lauer, superlative am lauesten or am lausten)

1. synonym of lauwarm (“lukewarm, tepid”)
2. (often of wind or the night) mild; especially in the sense that it is pleasantly cool after a period of heat

   Synonym: mild

   Es war eine laue Sommernacht. ― It was a mild summer night. [i.e. one that is warm, but bringing welcome cooling after a hot day]

3. cushy, easy

   ein lauer Job ― a cushy job

Derived terms

• für lau
• lauer Lenz (“period of idleness”)

sich einen lauen Lenz machen ― to get on a gravy train, to ride the gravy train

Further reading

• “lau” in Duden online
• “lau” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache

Hawaiian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈlau̯/, [ˈlɐw], [ˈlɔw] (rapid speech)

Etymology 1

From Proto-Eastern Polynesian *lau, from Proto-Polynesian *rau, from Proto-Central Pacific *rau, from Proto-Oceanic *raun, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *raun, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *daun, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *dahun (“leaf”) (compare with Malay daun, Tagalog dahon).

Noun

lau

1. leaf

Derived terms

• hoʻolau
• lauoho

Etymology 2

From Proto-Polynesian *rau (“hundred”) ultimately from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *ʀatus (compare with Malay ratus, Tagalog gatos).

Verb

lau

1. (stative) many, numerous

Numeral

lau

1. four hundred

References

• Pukui, Mary Kawena, Elbert, Samuel H. (1986) “lau”, in Hawaiian Dictionary, Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press

Hiri Motu

Pronoun

lau

1. 1st-person singular pronoun: I, me

See also

Hiri Motu personal pronouns

			singular	plural
1st person			lau	ai (exclusive) ita (inclusive)
2nd person			oi	umui
3rd person			ia	idia

Kalo Finnish Romani

Noun

lau m (genitive laavesko, nominative plural laave, genitive plural laavengo)

1. word
2. talk

Derived terms

• bürjibosko laave
• džorjilbosko lau
• hoodibosko lau
• kuti laaveskiero
• laavengiiro
• laavesgiires
• laaveskiero
• laavesko liin
• pattijako lau
• xellibosko lau
• xluutibosko lau

Kapampangan

Alternative forms

• lauo (Spanish orthography, obsolete)
• lawu (Súlat Wáwâ)

Etymology

From Sanskrit राहु (rāhu, “Rāhu”). Compare Tagalog laho.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈlauʔ/ [ˈläː.uʔ]
• Hyphenation: la‧u

Noun

láû

1. eclipse (usually of the moon)

   Synonyms: eklipsi, sisilim

2. sudden or mysterious disappearance
3. disappearance of one's emotion or feeling (of pain, tiredness, etc.)
4. (obsolete) lunar eclipse

   Coordinate term: lau bulan

5. (obsolete) very black cloud

   Synonyms: lulam, dulum

6. (folklore, obsolete) eclipse monster that devours the moon

Derived terms

• lau aldo
• lau bulan

Related terms

• Lau

Karo Batak

Noun

lau

1. water

References

• Ahmad Samin Siregar et al. (2001). Kamus Bahasa Karo–Indonesia. Medan: Balai Pustaka, p. 119.

Middle English

Noun

lau

1. alternative form of lawe

Mokilese

Noun

lau

1. tongue

Inflection

Possessive forms of lau (tightly inalienable)

singular possessor	first person		loawoaioa
	second person		loawoamwen
	third person		loawoa
dual possessors	first person inclusive		loawoasa
	first person exclusive		loawoama
	second person		loawoamwa
	third person		loawoara
plural possessors	first person inclusive		loawoasai
	first person exclusive		loawoamai
	second person		loawoamwai
	third person		loawoarai
remote plural possessors	first person inclusive		loawoahs
	first person exclusive		loawoami
	second person		loawoamwi
	third person		loawoahr
construct form			loawoan

North Frisian

Alternative forms

• lööw (Föhr-Amrum, also Mooring variant)
• Lööv (Sylt)

Etymology

From Old Frisian *lewa, from Proto-West Germanic *lēwō. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Leeuwe.

Noun

lau m (plural laue)

1. (Mooring) lion

Old Welsh

Etymology

From Proto-Brythonic *llọβ̃, from Proto-Celtic *ɸlāmā, from Proto-Indo-European *pl̥h₂meh₂ (“palm, hand”).

Noun

lau f

1. hand

Descendants

• Middle Welsh: llaw
  • Welsh: llaw

Rapa Nui

Adjective

lau

1. wide

Remontado Agta

Noun

laú

1. water

Romanian

Verb

lau

1. inflection of la:
   1. first-person singular present indicative/subjunctive
   2. third-person plural present/imperfect indicative

Samoan

Etymology

From Proto-Polynesian *rau (compare Maori rau), from Proto-Oceanic, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *dahun (compare Malay daun).

Noun

lau

1. leaf

Numeral

lau

1. hundred

Derived terms

• lua lau (“two hundred”)

Tocharian B

Adverb

lau

1. away

   ṣañ wrat lau tärkanacer

   You are going to let your vow away. (literally)

   You are going to break your vow.

Vietnamese

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [law˧˧]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [law˧˧]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [la(ː)w˧˧]

• Audio (Saigon):

  (file)

Etymology 1

From Proto-Vietic *k-luː, cognate with Arem alaw.

Noun

(classifier cây) lau • (𣓿, 𦰤)

1. reed, arundinaceous cane

Etymology 2

Verb

lau

1. to clean by wiping or rubbing with a wet cloth

Derived terms

• lau dọn
• lau sạch

See also

• giặt
• rửa

Welsh

Pronunciation

• (North Wales) IPA^(key): /laɨ̯/
• (South Wales) IPA^(key): /lai̯/

Noun

lau

1. soft mutation of llau (“lice”)

Mutation

Mutated forms of llau

radical	soft	nasal	aspirate
llau	lau	unchanged	unchanged

Note: Certain mutated forms of some words can never occur in standard Welsh.
All possible mutated forms are displayed for convenience.

White Hmong

Alternative forms

• laug (for ruminant mammals)

Etymology

From Proto-Hmong *ʔljuwᴮ (“male”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /lau̯˧/

Adjective

lau

1. (of birds) male

Derived terms

• lau qaib (“rooster”)

References

• Heimbach, Ernest E. (1979) White Hmong — English Dictionary‎^[2], SEAP Publications, →ISBN, page 105.