Definition

1. Noun:
   • A plumbing fixture for defecation and urination: A bowl-shaped fixture, typically made of porcelain, with a flushing mechanism, used for the disposal of human waste.
   • A room or building equipped with such a fixture: A small room containing a toilet and often a sink.
   • (Formal/Archaic) The act or process of dressing and grooming oneself: The routine of washing, arranging hair, and putting on clothes.
   • (Informal, chiefly US) Misfortune or a ruined state: A situation where plans, efforts, or money are wasted or lost.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Plumbing fixture):
  • The toilet is clogged and needs to be fixed.
  • All new apartments have modern, water-efficient toilets.
• Noun (Room):
  • Excuse me, where is the toilet?
  • The public toilet at the park was very clean.
• Noun (Formal: Act of grooming):
  • She completed her morning toilet before coming downstairs.
• Noun (Informal: Ruined state):
  • After the scandal, his political career went right down the toilet.

Advanced Usage

• "to go down the toilet": (idiomatic, informal) To be completely wasted, ruined, or lost.
  • All our careful planning went down the toilet when the client canceled.
• "toilet training": The process of teaching a young child to use the toilet.
  • We started toilet training our daughter last month.

Variants and Related Words

• Toilette (noun): The formal French-derived term for the act or process of dressing and grooming.
  • She spent an hour at her toilette before the ball.
• Toiletries (plural noun): Articles or products used in washing, grooming, and taking care of one's body (e.g., soap, toothpaste).
  • I forgot to pack my toiletries bag.

Synonyms

• Lavatory: A room or compartment containing a toilet and washbasin.
• Restroom: A public toilet.
• Loo (British informal): A toilet.
• WC (Water Closet): A term for a toilet or a room containing one.
• Privy (archaic): An outdoor toilet.

Related Phrasal Verbs/Phrases

• To toilet (a pet/animal): (verb, rare/formal) To help an animal, especially a dependent one, urinate or defecate.
  • The nurse helped toilet the elderly patient.

Related Idioms

• "Toilet humor": Jokes or comedy that deals with bodily functions, especially excretion, in a crude or childish way.
  • The movie was full of silly toilet humor that made the children laugh.

Noun

1. the act of dressing and preparing yourself
   • he made his morning toilet and went to breakfast
2. misfortune resulting in lost effort or money
   • his career was in the gutter
   • all that work went down the sewer
   • pensions are in the toilet
3. a plumbing fixture for defecation and urination
4. a room or building equipped with one or more toilets