steam bath

American  

noun

1. a bath of steam, usually in a specially equipped room or enclosure, for cleansing or refreshing oneself.

2. a special room or enclosure, or an establishment containing it, for such a bath.

3. a bath of steam used in laboratories for sterilizing equipment, utensils, etc.

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steam bath British  

noun

1. a room or enclosure that can be filled with steam in which people bathe to induce sweating and refresh or cleanse themselves

2. an act of taking such a bath

3. an enclosure through which steam can be passed continuously, used in laboratories for sterilizing equipment, maintaining a constant temperature, etc

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Etymology

Origin of steam bath

First recorded in 1820–30

Example Sentences

In Alaska, that can look like getting friends together for a maqiq, the Yupik word for a sauna or steam bath.

From Seattle Times

Instead of showers, they rely on steam baths or sponge baths.

From Seattle Times

Many Doukhobors in Canada still speak Russian among themselves; send their children to Russian-language schools; sing Russian hymns at weekly spiritual meetings; bathe in Russian-style steam baths; and eat traditional dishes like borscht.

From New York Times

Cosby allegedly offered to pay for the women to get a steam bath and a massage at a nearby spa and vowed to “treat” them to dinner afterward.

From Los Angeles Times

On Monday, the lowest reading in the morning, which is usually the coldest time of day, was again 29 degrees, 3 below freezing and nobody’s steam bath.

From Washington Post