commode
Commode (noun) means a chair-like piece of furniture with a hinged seat concealing a chamber pot, used as a toilet substitute. Example: “The nurse helped her elderly patient onto the commode beside the bed.”
How to use commode
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a piece of low bedroom furniture with drawers, or a chair fitted with a chamber pot for people who can't easily reach a bathroom.
In American English "commode" is also a polite word for a toilet itself; in furniture contexts it means a chest of drawers, so context matters.
Word forms
commodes plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The nurse helped her elderly patient onto the _____ beside the bed.
Etymology
From French commode, literally "convenient" — the same root gives us the adjective commodious.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for commode
See all rhymes for commode →Frequently asked questions
What does “commode” mean?
The word “commode” means a chair-like piece of furniture with a hinged seat concealing a chamber pot, used as a toilet substitute. In plain terms, either a piece of low bedroom furniture with drawers, or a chair fitted with a chamber pot for people who can't easily reach a bathroom.
How do you pronounce “commode”?
“Commode” is pronounced kuh-MOHD (/kəˈməʊd/ in IPA).
How do you use “commode” in a sentence?
Here is “commode” used in a sentence: “The nurse helped her elderly patient onto the commode beside the bed.”
What part of speech is “commode”?
“Commode” is a noun.
Where does the word “commode” come from?
The word “commode” comes from French. From French commode, literally "convenient" — the same root gives us the adjective commodious.
How many meanings does “commode” have?
“Commode” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a chair-like piece of furniture with a hinged seat concealing a chamber pot, used as a toilet substitute.
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