2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Lavender  \Lav"en*der\,  n.  [OE.  lavendre,  F.  lavande  It  lavanda 
  lavender,  a  washing,  fr  L.  lavare  to  wash;  cf  It 
  lsavendola  LL  lavendula.  So  called  because  it  was  used  in 
  bathing  and  washing.  See  {Lave}.  to  wash,  and  cf 
  {Lavender}.] 
  1.  (Bot.)  An  aromatic  plant  of  the  genus  {Lavandula}  ({L. 
  vera}),  common  in  the  south  of  Europe.  It  yields  and  oil 
  used  in  medicine  and  perfumery.  The  {Spike  lavender}  ({L. 
  Spica})  yields  a  coarser  oil  (oil  of  spike),  used  in  the 
  arts. 
 
  2.  The  pale,  purplish  color  of  lavender  flowers,  paler  and 
  more  delicate  than  lilac. 
 
  {Lavender  cotton}  (Bot.),  a  low  twiggy,  aromatic  shrub 
  ({Santolina  Cham[ae]cyparissus})  of  the  Mediterranean 
  region,  formerly  used  as  a  vermifuge,  etc.,  and  still  used 
  to  keep  moths  from  wardrobes.  Also  called  {ground 
  cypress}. 
 
  {Lavender  water},  a  perfume  composed  of  alcohol,  essential 
  oil  of  lavender,  essential  oil  of  bergamot,  and  essence  of 
  ambergris. 
 
  {Sea  lavender}.  (Bot.)  See  {Marsh  rosemary}. 
 
  {To  lay  in  lavender}. 
  a  To  lay  away  as  clothing,  with  sprigs  of  lavender. 
  b  To  pawn.  [Obs.] 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  lavender 
  adj  :  of  a  pale  purple  color  [syn:  {lilac}] 
  n  :  any  of  various  Old  World  aromatic  shrubs  or  subshrubs  with 
  usually  mauve  or  blue  flowers;  widely  cultivated 

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