toilet bowl
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.”
How to use toilet bowl
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe bowl part of the toilet that holds the water.
Neutral and standard, more common in American English; British writers often say "toilet pan" or just "toilet". Two words, not hyphenated.
"Toilet bowl cleaner" is the standard product name in shops, so it is worth learning as a fixed phrase.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He scrubbed the _____ with bleach.
Etymology
From toilet + 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.