bathe
verb /beɪð/
/beɪð/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they bathe | /beɪð/ /beɪð/ |
| he / she / it bathes | /beɪðz/ /beɪðz/ |
| past simple bathed | /beɪðd/ /beɪðd/ |
| past participle bathed | /beɪðd/ /beɪðd/ |
| -ing form bathing | /ˈbeɪðɪŋ/ /ˈbeɪðɪŋ/ |
- [transitive] bathe something to wash something with water, especially a part of your body
- Bathe the wound and apply a clean dressing.
- His arm was bathed and the wound was lanced.
- (North American English) (British English bath)[transitive, intransitive] bathe (somebody) to give a bath to somebody
- Have you bathed the baby yet?
- I bathe every day.
Which Word? bath / bathe / swim / sunbathebath / bathe / swim / sunbathe- When you wash yourself you can say that you bath (British English) or bathe (North American English), but it is much more common to say have a bath (British English) or take a bath (North American English).
- You can also bath (British English) or bathe (North American English) another person, for example a baby.
- You bathe a part of your body, especially to clean a wound.
- When you go swimming it is old-fashioned to say that you bathe, and you cannot say that you bath or take a bath. It is more common to use swim, go for a swim, have a swim or go swimming:
- Let’s go for a quick swim in the pool.
- She goes swimming every morning before breakfast.
- When you lie in the sun in order to go brown you sunbathe.
- [intransitive] (old-fashioned) to go swimming in the sea, a river, etc. for pleasure see also sunbathe
- [transitive] bathe something (in something) (literary) to fill or cover something with light
- The moon bathed the countryside in a silver light.
Word OriginOld English bathian, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German baden.