bathtub

American  

[bath-tuhb, bahth-] / ˈbæθˌtʌb, ˈbɑθ- /

noun

• bathtubs
  plural

1. a tub to bathe in, especially one that is a permanent fixture in a bathroom.

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bathtub British  

/ ˈbɑːθˌtʌb /

noun

1. a bath, esp one not permanently fixed

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• bathtubs
  plural

Etymology

Origin of bathtub

First recorded in 1825–35; bath ¹ + tub

Explanation

A bathtub is a bathroom fixture, a tub that you can fill with water for bathing. Some people like to soak in a bathtub at the end of a long day. Many bathtubs are made of ceramic or porcelain, and they're large enough for an adult to lie down in at least partially submerged in water. Some bathrooms have only a bathtub, or only a shower, while others have both. In Britain, it's more common to call a bathtub simply a bath. During Prohibition in 1920s America, "bathtub gin" referred to any kind of home-brewed alcohol, whether it was actually made in a bathtub or not.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bathtub bathtubs

You don’t need Charlize Theron in a bathtub explaining this to you, right?

From Salon ● Jun. 22, 2026

From the Greek philosopher Archimedes shouting “eureka” in his bathtub to the German psychologist Karl Bühler defining the concept of an “Aha!” moment two centuries later, sudden jolts of realization can hit rather quickly.

From Barron's ● Jun. 9, 2026

The NBA has had extremely tall players before—here, I’m talking 7-foot-4 and up, Dubai skyscraper range—but usually they’ve handled the basketball like a toaster in the bathtub.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 1, 2026

A luxurious bathtub in an en suite bathroom.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 13, 2026

I take a look into the bathtub and realize that the water line has really receded since Saturday.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

ALTER: Freestanding bathtubs look good in magazines, and they may be safe for people during their peak years of agility and fitness.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026

Just like sinks and bathtubs have overflow drains to prevent spills, human cells appear to have a similar built-in safeguard.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 26, 2026

Built in 2008, it features parquet de Versailles flooring, 18th-century French Louis XV–carved stone fireplaces, and hand-carved marble bathtubs.

From MarketWatch ● Jan. 5, 2026

Cocktails are served in ceramic unicorns and miniature bathtubs.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 27, 2025

So I head off to find Grammy and help her clean some bathtubs.

From "Shouting at the Rain" by Lynda Mullaly Hunt