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

This is roughly equivalent to stopping an overflowing bathtub by shutting off the water to the entire apartment building because you cannot get to the faucet.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 31, 2026

Ornate cabinets designed by Razan's mother have been torn apart and dumped in the bathtub and the bedrooms are still littered with the remains of harvested plants.

From BBC ● Jun. 24, 2026

The singer, who was slated to attend his annual pre-Grammy bash, drowned in a bathtub at the Beverly Hilton the night before the event.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 22, 2026

Emrys screamed in the bathtub and immediately grabbed his ear, terrified by the sound of his own voice.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 23, 2026

Me in my complete clothes, in the bathtub.

From "Beast Rider" by Tony Johnston & María Elena Fontanot de Rhoads

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

Even outside of the luxury resort’s private infinity pools, two-person bathtubs and 24-hour butler service, preparations for an expected tourism boom are underway.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 4, 2024

"If my wish would come true,” Mother hastened to change the subject, "you’d all be sitting in bathtubs right this minute, washing soot out of your hair.”

From "Cheaper by the Dozen" by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey