• Bathe

    Pronunciation

    • British IPA: /beɪð/
    • US enPR: bāth
    • Rhymes: -eɪð

    Origin

    From Middle English bathen, from Old English baþian ("to bathe, wash"), from Proto-Germanic *baþōną ("to bathe"), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₁-, *bʰoh₁- ("to warm"). More at bath.

    Full definition of bathe

    Verb

    1. (intransitive) To clean oneself by immersion in water or using water; to take a bath, have a bath.
    2. (intransitive) To immerse oneself, or part of the body, in water for pleasure or refreshment; to swim.
    3. (transitive) To clean a person by immersion in water or using water; to take a bath, have a bath.We bathe our baby before going to bed; other parents do it in the morning if they have time.
    4. (transitive) To apply water or other liquid to; to suffuse or cover with liquid.She bathed her eyes with liquid to remove the stinging chemical.The nurse bathed his wound with a sponge.The incoming tides bathed the coral reef.
    5. (figuratively, transitive and intransitive) To cover or surround.The room was bathed in moonlight.A dense fog bathed the city streets.
      • 2011, April 10, Alistair Magowan, Aston Villa 1 - 0 Newcastle, Although the encounter was bathed in sunshine, the match failed to reach boiling point but that will be of little concern to Gerard Houllier's team, who took a huge step forward before they face crucial matches against their relegation rivals.
    6. (intransitive) To sunbathe.The women bathed in the sun.

    Derived terms

    Related terms

    Noun

    bathe

    (plural bathes)
    1. (British, colloquial) The act of swimming or bathing, especially in the sea, a lake, or a river; a swimming bath.I'm going to have a midnight bathe tonight.
    © Wiktionary