noun
toilet bowl
TOY-lit bohl
Toilet bowl (noun) means the rounded ceramic basin of a lavatory, which holds water and carries waste into the drain. Example: “He scrubbed the toilet bowl with bleach.”
noun
1
The rounded ceramic basin of a lavatory, which holds water and carries waste into the drain.
"He scrubbed the toilet bowl with bleach."
"The ring around the toilet bowl is limescale, not dirt."
2
informal, sport In sport, an informal name for a contest between the two worst teams in a league, or the loser's bracket of a tournament.
"Two wins between them all season — Sunday is the toilet bowl."
3
informal Used figuratively of something in steep, spiralling decline.
"The share price has been circling the toilet bowl since the recall."
How to use toilet bowl
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe bowl part of the toilet that holds the water.
When to use it
Neutral and standard, more common in American English; British writers often say "toilet pan" or just "toilet". Two words, not hyphenated.
Memory tip
"Toilet bowl cleaner" is the standard product name in shops, so it is worth learning as a fixed phrase.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
clean the toilet bowl
toilet bowl cleaner
toilet bowl ring
circling the toilet bowl
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He scrubbed the _____ with bleach.
Etymology
Formed from toilet and bowl.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a toilet bowl and a toilet?
The toilet is the whole fixture, including the cistern (tank), seat and flushing mechanism. The toilet bowl is specifically the ceramic basin that holds the water and receives waste. Plumbers and product listings keep the distinction; everyday speech usually does not.
Why does a toilet bowl always hold water?
The water sits in a U-shaped bend called the trap. That standing water seals the pipe and stops sewer gas rising into the room, which is also why a toilet that has not been used for months can start to smell as the trap dries out.
What causes a ring in the toilet bowl?
Usually limescale from hard water, sometimes stained brown by iron or by bacteria that grow at the waterline. It is mineral deposit rather than dirt, which is why scrubbing alone often fails and an acidic descaler works better.
What is the meaning of toilet bowl?
"toilet bowl" (noun) means the rounded ceramic basin of a lavatory, which holds water and carries waste into the drain.
