bathe

[beyth]

verb (used with object)

bathed, bathing 

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, bathing 

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

Other Word Forms

• rebathe verb
• bather noun

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

I was wearing my arena suit, bathing cap and competitive swim goggles.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Today, bathed in the sun, the beach looks as idyllic as it must have been all those years ago.

Read more on BBC

Living off the grid like many in the area, Butler, then 65, was lucky one of her water tanks survived so she could bathe.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Inside, skylights cut into the rounded ceiling suggest a fuselage bathed in daylight.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Swimmers are disappointed that they can not get into the water as bathing alerts have come into effect on two north coast beaches.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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