bathe

[ beyth ]

verb (used with object)

, bathed, bath·ing.

1. to immerse (all or part of the body) in water or some other liquid, for cleansing, refreshment, etc.
2. to wet; wash.
3. to moisten or suffuse with any liquid.
4. to apply water or other liquid to, with a sponge, cloth, etc.:

   to bathe a wound.

5. to wash over or against, as by the action of the sea, a river, etc.:

   incoming tides bathing the coral reef.

6. to cover or surround:

   a shaft of sunlight bathing the room; a morning fog bathing the city.

verb (used without object)

, bathed, bath·ing.

1. to take a bath or sunbath.
2. to swim for pleasure.
3. to be covered or surrounded as if with water.

noun

1. British.
   1. the act of bathing, especially in the sea, a lake, or a river.
   2. a swimming bath.

bathe

/ beɪð /

verb

1. intr to swim or paddle in a body of open water or a river, esp for pleasure
2. tr to apply liquid to (skin, a wound, etc) in order to cleanse or soothe
3. to immerse or be immersed in a liquid

   to bathe machine parts in oil

4. to wash in a bath
5. tr; often passive to suffuse

   her face was bathed with radiance

6. tr (of water, the sea, etc) to lap; wash

   waves bathed the shore

noun

1. a swim or paddle in a body of open water or a river

Derived Forms

• ˈbather, noun

Other Words From

• re·bathe verb rebathed rebathing

Word History and Origins

Origin of bathe¹

before 1000; Middle English bath ( i ) en, Old English bathian, equivalent to bæth bath ¹ + -ian infinitive suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of bathe¹

Old English bathian ; related to Old Norse batha , Old High German badōn

Example Sentences

The simple enough reason was – “…for he did not understand the way of the Macedonians, among whom not even a woman who has just given birth bathes in warm water”.

From Realm of History

Jasmin helps her transfer in and out of her wheelchair, get dressed, and bathe.

From The Daily Beast

With little water and only a few hours of electricity a day they were unable to shower or bathe the 25 children in the apartment.

From The Daily Beast

I remember getting up and going in to bathe him and dress him.

From The Daily Beast

Women would first bathe their feet in a mixture of vinegar and natural vegetation.

From The Daily Beast

Early in the voyage, he decided to start the day with a sea bathe.

From The Daily Beast

"To bathe in the very heart's blood of the one desired," he added with grave emphasis.

From Project Gutenberg

He helped her to light the lamp; then she went into her room to take off her hat and to bathe her face and hands.

From Project Gutenberg

If a Hindoo happens to touch a Paria as he is passing, he thinks himself defiled, and is obliged to bathe immediately.

From Project Gutenberg

Once I had taken him to bathe in the river; this was summer vacation and several boys came with me to help.

From Project Gutenberg

He had gone to bathe in the river, had slipped too far out, and not knowing how to swim had almost been drowned.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• clean
• dip
• douse
• immerse
• rinse
• scour
• scrub
• soak
• steep
• submerge
• wet