This is the 7176th most frequent Portuguese word.
lava
"Lava" in Portuguese means "lava" (molten rock) or "it washes" (third person singular of the verb "lavar").
The word 'lava' here is the conjugated form of the verb 'lavar' (to wash), in the third-person singular present indicative, meaning 'washes'.
O menino lava o carro na garagem.
The boy washes the car in the garage.
In this sentence, 'lava' refers to the noun 'lava', meaning hot molten rock ejected from a volcano.
A lava do vulcão desceu rapidamente pela encosta.
The lava from the volcano descended quickly down the slope.
Here, 'lava' is part of the compound noun 'lava-louças,' which means dishwasher, combining 'lava' (washing) and 'louças' (dishes).