sauna

[ saw-nuh, sou- ]

noun

1. a bath that uses dry heat to induce perspiration, and in which steam is produced by pouring water on heated stones.
2. a bathhouse or room, usually of wood, equipped for such a bath.

verb (used without object)

, sau·naed, sau·na·ing.

1. to take a sauna:

   to sauna after exercising.

sauna

/ ˈsɔːnə /

noun

1. an invigorating bath originating in Finland in which the bather is subjected to hot steam, usually followed by a cold plunge or by being lightly beaten with birch twigs
2. the place in which such a bath is taken

Word History and Origins

Origin of sauna¹

Borrowed into English from Finnish around 1880–85

Word History and Origins

Origin of sauna¹

C20: from Finnish

Example Sentences

Also, don’t miss the city’s new Sky Lagoon, with its swim-up Champagne bar and fjord-view sauna and natural hot springs.

From Outside Online

The sauna effect is a thing of the past, as are pit zips—and NeoShell’s supple, four-way stretchiness is a far cry from stiff waterproof shells.

From Outside Online

Instead, she kept her weekly Thursday date at a local sauna, coolly confident that she had time on her hands.

From Ozy

They sometimes spend more than half an hour there talking, joking and laughing, as if they were in a sauna.

From Washington Blade

She gamely gets her armpits professionally sniffed, and she joins naked, sweating audiences for sauna theater.

From Science News

The amenities include a fitness room, a sauna, a beauty parlor, and a karaoke setup.

From The Daily Beast

There is a breeze, and that is the only thing that differentiates it from a sauna.

From The Daily Beast

Our early-evening appointment with the sauna was canceled due to “technical reasons.”

From The Daily Beast

And I would rather work as a security guard for a sauna full of beautiful girls!

From The Daily Beast

Russians believe the best way to dry out from vodka saturation is with a sauna session and a beating with birch branches.

From The Daily Beast

Suyettar thought that this would be a fine chance to wash the dust from her eyes, so she let them lead her to the sauna.

From Project Gutenberg

The sauna, or bath-house, is always a separate building; and there Finnish people take extremely hot baths almost every evening.

From Project Gutenberg

There are many Finns in the community who still use the sauna, or steam bath, of their native land.

From Project Gutenberg

The first building which she erected was not the dwelling-house but the Sauna or bath-house.

From Project Gutenberg

Slowly she marched out of the castle, across the courtyard, and over to the sauna.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• lavatory
• powder room
• restroom
• toilet
• washroom
• water closet