bathtub: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral, but slightly more common in everyday/informal contexts; 'bath' is the more common British term for the fixture.
Quick answer
What does “bathtub” mean?
A long, open, typically rectangular container for water, in which a person sits or lies to wash their body.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A long, open, typically rectangular container for water, in which a person sits or lies to wash their body.
1. A fixed plumbing fixture or a large portable container for bathing. 2. Informally, a very large, deep, or old-fashioned container. 3. In finance (bathtub curve), a graph showing the failure rate of a product over time.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
UK: Primarily 'bath' for the fixture. 'Bathtub' is used, but can sound American or refer to a specific type (free-standing, antique). US: 'Bathtub' is the standard, unambiguous term for the fixture.
Connotations
UK: 'Bathtub' can evoke nostalgia, an older style, or a heavier, claw-footed tub. US: Neutral, standard domestic object.
Frequency
Much more frequent in American English. In the British National Corpus, 'bath' is vastly more common than 'bathtub'.
Grammar
How to Use “bathtub” in a Sentence
[Subject] filled the bathtub.[Subject] soaked in the bathtub.[Subject] installed a new bathtub.The [noun] was in the bathtub.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bathtub” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A as a standard verb. Non-standard/playful: "He was bathtubbing the dog in the garden."
American English
- N/A as a standard verb.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- bathtub-shaped hole
- bathtub-style chair
American English
- bathtub gin
- bathtub ring
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in real estate ('en-suite with bathtub') or manufacturing (bathtub manufacturer).
Academic
Rare, except in historical/design contexts (history of domestic plumbing).
Everyday
Very common, domestic context.
Technical
Plumbing/construction: specifying fixture type, drainage, installation.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bathtub”
- Misspelling as 'bathtubb' or 'bath tub' (should be one word or hyphenated: bath-tub).
- Using 'bathtub' as a verb (incorrect: 'I will bathtub'; correct: 'I will take a bath').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Bath' can refer to the act of washing (I'm going to have a bath) or the fixture. 'Bathtub' refers specifically to the physical container/fixture. In the US, 'bathtub' is the default for the fixture. In the UK, 'bath' is default, and 'bathtub' is more specific.
It is one word in modern standard English (bathtub). The hyphenated form 'bath-tub' is now dated.
No, 'bathtub' is not a standard verb. The verb is 'to bathe' or the phrase 'to take a bath'.
It refers to homemade, often low-quality alcohol produced illegally during the US Prohibition era (1920-1933), supposedly made in bathtubs due to their size.
A long, open, typically rectangular container for water, in which a person sits or lies to wash their body.
Bathtub is usually neutral, but slightly more common in everyday/informal contexts; 'bath' is the more common british term for the fixture. in register.
Bathtub: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɑːθtʌb/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbæθtʌb/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “"Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater." (Warning against discarding something valuable while removing the unwanted.)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BAT having a bath in a TUB → BATHTUB.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTAINER FOR PURIFICATION/CLEANSING (both literal and metaphorical, e.g., 'a bathtub of regrets').
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English is 'bathtub' the most frequent and neutral term for the bathroom fixture?