bathtub

American  

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

noun

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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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

Karen said the cubs seemed to feel safe within the small box, which was then placed in her bathtub.

From BBC • Feb. 18, 2026

The energy was palpable behind the scenes: U.S. teams placed a door on top of a bathtub that served as a desk, where the sides established negotiating positions and discussed plans long into the night.

From Slate • Feb. 2, 2026

First, she must wash the dogs one by one in an elevated bathtub.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 31, 2026

Think of the Pacific Ocean like one enormous bathtub, and El Niño like a wave of warm water sloshing from one end of the bathtub to another.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 5, 2025

The bathtub was in a corner of the kitchen.

From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff