Bathe
Pronunciation
- British IPA: /beɪð/
- US enPR: bÄth
- Rhymes: -eɪð
Origin
From Middle English bathen, from Old English baþian ("to bathe, wash"), from Proto-Germanic *baþÅnÄ… ("to bathe"), from Proto-Indo-European *bÊ°ehâ‚-, *bÊ°ohâ‚- ("to warm"). More at bath.
Full definition of bathe
Verb
- (intransitive) To clean oneself by immersion in water or using water; to take a bath, have a bath.
- (intransitive) To immerse oneself, or part of the body, in water for pleasure or refreshment; to swim.
- (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.
- (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.
- (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.
- (intransitive) To sunbathe.The women bathed in the sun.
Related terms
Noun
bathe
(plural bathes)- (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.