Definition

1. Noun:
   • A permanently installed bathroom fixture: A washstand is a sink that is fixed in place, connected to plumbing for water supply and drainage, used for washing hands and face.
   • A piece of furniture: A washstand is also a stand or table designed to hold a basin and a pitcher of water for washing, common in eras before modern plumbing.

Examples of Usage

• As a permanent bathroom fixture:

  • The antique bathroom featured a marble washstand with brass taps.
  • He washed his hands at the porcelain washstand.

• As a piece of furniture (historical/antique context):

  • The bedroom set included a wooden washstand with a matching pitcher and basin.
  • In the 19th century, a washstand was an essential piece of bedroom furniture.

Advanced Usage

• The term can be used to evoke a historical or non-modern setting.
  • The inn room was quaint, furnished with a simple bed and a washstand.

Variants and Related Words

• Wash-hand stand (noun): A British term for the furniture version of a washstand.
• Basin (noun): The bowl for holding water, often placed on a washstand.
• Lavatory (noun): A more formal term for a room with washing facilities; a modern washstand is a fixture within it.

Synonyms

• Sink (for the fixture meaning)
• Lavabo (a basin for washing, often in a ritual context)
• Vanity (a modern bathroom cabinet with a sink, but this includes storage)

Notes on Meaning

• The primary modern meaning refers to the fixed bathroom sink.
• The furniture meaning is now largely historical or antique, describing a free-standing piece common before indoor plumbing.

Noun

1. a bathroom sink that is permanently installed and connected to a water supply and drainpipe; where you can wash your hands and face
   • he ran some water in the basin and splashed it on his face
2. furniture consisting of a table or stand to hold a basin and pitcher of water for washing: `wash-hand stand' is a British term