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bathroom

US //ˈbæˌθɹum// UK //bˈɑːθɹuːm// bath·room
  1. 1 room for washing (n.)

    a room in a house or building that has a bath or shower and usually a toilet.

    a room containing a bathtub or shower, often including a toilet and washbasin.

    Example

    The hotel room has a private bathroom with a large shower and fresh towels.

    Example

    The hotel room has a private bathroom with a large shower and fresh towels.

  2. 2 toilet (n.)

    a polite way to say the room where the toilet is, even if there is no bath.

    a euphemistic term for a lavatory or restroom, common in North American and Philippine English.

    Example

    Excuse me, I need to use the bathroom before we leave the restaurant.

    Example

    Excuse me, I need to use the bathroom before we leave the restaurant.

    Pitfall
    I am going to the bath.
    I am going to the bathroom.

    A 'bath' is the large container you sit in to wash; the 'bathroom' is the room itself.

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  1. 3 to assist a patient (v.)
    Medicine

    to help a sick or elderly person use the toilet and get clean.

    to assist a patient with toileting and personal hygiene. Transitive — requires a person as the object.

    Example

    The nurse will bathroom the patient before the morning rounds begin.

    Example

    The nurse will bathroom the patient before the morning rounds begin.

Origin

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₁- Proto-Germanic *baþą Proto-West Germanic *baþ Old English bæþ Middle English bath English bath Proto-Indo-European *Hrew-? Proto-Indo-European *(H)rewH-der. Proto-Germanic *rūmą Proto-West Germanic *rūm Old English rūm Middle English roum English room English bathroom From bath + room. Compare Dutch badkamer (“bathroom”), German Badezimmer (“bathroom”), Swedish badrum (“bathroom”), Faroese baðrúm (“bathroom”).

Idioms1 entry

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