Main Difference – Bath vs Bathe
Bath and bathe are two words that share same etymological and semantic characteristics. Therefore, many people tend to ignore the difference between these two words. However, there is a distinct difference between bath and bathe. The main difference between bath and bathe is that bath is a noun whereas bathe is a verb. The usage of these words changes according to these different grammatical functions. It is also important to note that bath is sometimes used as a verb in British English. We’ll look at all these discrepancies in this article.
Bath – Meaning and Usage
Bath comes from the old English bæth. The noun bath can have various meanings depending on the context. Bath mainly refers to the process or act of washing or cleansing oneself. Here, bath is used verbs like have and take. For example,
The children had a bath in the evening.
I took a long, hot bath.
She gave her baby a daily bath with soap and warm water.
Bath can also refer to,
A large container of water, used for immersing and washing the body or bathtub
He lay in the bath, reading.
The bath had gotten cold.
A bathroom
They renovated their kitchen and bath.
The room had its own private bath.
In British English, bath is also used as a verb. This is mainly used is used with an object. According to the Oxford Dictionary, bath means ‘to wash someone while immersing them in a bath’. Therefore, bath can be used in relation to babies and pets.
She didn’t know how to bath the baby.
She fed and bathed the toddler and put him to sleep.
Bathe – Meaning and Usage
Bathe is mainly used as a verb. The main meaning of bathe is to wash one’s body in water. For example,
Her son bathes daily.
The doctor advised her to bathe in hot water.
Bathe can also mean to wash something or cleanse something with water.
I bathed and bandaged the wound.
She was advised to bathe her foot in warm water.
We also use bathe to talk about swimming or spending time in the sea, or a lake, river or pool for pleasure.
Last weekend, we bathed in the sea.
After the picnic, everyone wanted to bathe in the lake.
It is also important to note that bathe is sometimes used as a noun in British English. Here, bathe refers to An act or spell of swimming or spending time in the water.
People believe that a bathe in the Ganges river can wash away their sins.
A bathe in the cold sea would be the death of him.
Difference Between Bath and Bathe
Grammatical Category
Bath is mainly considered as a noun.
Bathe is mainly considered as a verb.
British English
Bath is sometimes used as a verb.
Bathe is sometimes used as a noun.
Meaning
Bath can refer to the process or act of washing or cleansing one’s body or a bathtub.
Bathe refers to washing or cleansing one’s body.
