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

John Andrews, MD, a resident in neurosurgery, placed the tissue on a nutrient medium that resembles the cerebrospinal fluid that bathes the brain.

From Science Daily

We traded life vests and bathing suits for wedding attire behind a rock and connected to shaky cell service so family and friends could participate.

From Los Angeles Times

At Colorado and Main, I continued straight, and there it was: the Pacific Ocean bathed in pinks and oranges.

From Los Angeles Times

“Her clothing is the Columbo trench coat — the idea of it — the piece of sand in your bathing suit.”

From Los Angeles Times

He added that E. coli levels were "way" above that permitted for safe bathing.

From BBC

Related Words

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