English Reference
noun · verb

bath

n. · v.
US /ˈbæθ/ UK /bˈɑːθ/ bath

  1. 01 A1 Beginner

    n.a large, long container that you fill with water and sit in to wash your body.

    n.a large open container, usually fixed in a bathroom, used for washing the body while immersed in water.

    Simple

    The children left their rubber ducks in the bath after they finished washing.

    In context

    The master suite features a freestanding porcelain bath positioned beneath a skylight to allow for stargazing during evening soaks.

  2. 02 A1 Beginner

    n.the act of washing your whole body in a tub of water.

    n.the process or instance of immersing the body in water for hygiene or relaxation.

    Simple

    A warm bath before bed helps me relax and sleep better.

    In context

    After a long day of hiking through the muddy valley, a hot bath was the only thing that could soothe his aching muscles.

  3. 03 A2 Elementary InformalAmerican English

    n.a short way of saying 'bathroom'.

    n.a clipping of 'bathroom', used to refer to the room containing a toilet and washing facilities.

    Simple

    Excuse me, I need to use the bath before we leave the house.

    In context

    The real estate agent noted that the apartment included a half bath on the ground floor for the convenience of guests.

  4. 04 B1 Intermediate British English

    v.to wash a person or an animal in a tub of water.

    v.to wash a person or animal in a bath; functions transitively or intransitively.

    Simple

    It is your turn to bath the dog because he is covered in mud.

    In context

    She found it difficult to bath the twins simultaneously without splashing water across the entire tiled floor.

    Usage

    In British English, 'bath' is commonly used as a verb, whereas American English prefers 'bathe'.

    Pitfall
    I need to bath the baby. I need to bathe the baby.

    In American English, 'bathe' is the verb and 'bath' is the noun. In British English, 'bath' can be used as a verb.

  5. 05 C1 Advanced Technical Science

    n.a liquid that something is dipped into, often for science or cleaning.

    n.a liquid or preparation in which something is immersed for a specific chemical or technical purpose.

    Simple

    The metal parts were dipped into a chemical bath to remove the rust.

    In context

    The laboratory technician prepared an acid bath to etch the surface of the silicon wafers before the next stage of production.


Etymology 1

From Middle English Bathe, from Old English Baþan, from the dative case of bæþ.

Etymology 2

Nonstandard transliteration of Arabic بَعْث (baʕṯ, “resurrection”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Old English Baþan
Level A1 · Beginner
Frequency Common
Updated