I. ˈtəb noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English tubbe, tobbe, from Middle Dutch; akin to Middle Low German tubbe, tobbe tub
1. : a wide low vessel usually about the size of a half barrel and originally formed with wooden staves, round bottom, and hoops but now often of metal or plastic
a galvanized wash tub
a tub for lard
2. Britain : sapphirine gurnard
3. : something shaped like or felt to resemble a tub: as
a. : an old, inferior, or slow-moving boat
b. : an old-fashioned pulpit
c.
(1) : a box or bucket in which coal or ore is sent up a shaft
(2) : keeve
(3) : a tram used underground
(4) : a puddling tub
d. : an old-fashioned hand-drawn fire engine
e. slang : an excessively corpulent person
f. : a container in which a unit of commercial fishing gear is coiled down ; sometimes : skate I 2b
g. : a mail hamper
4. : a vessel to contain water for bathing : bathtub ; also : a bath or the act of taking a bath
nothing like a hot tub to relax tired muscles
5.
a. : the amount that a tub will hold : the contents of a tub
a tub of butter was consumed
b. Britain : a keg holding about four gallons and formerly used to smuggle spirits
6.
a. : a pair-oared gig with a place for a coach in the stern used especially in training oarsmen
b. : a rack for topsail halyards
c. : a lookout enclosure on a mast
7. : a synchronized swimming stunt in which from a back layout position the knees are brought to the chest and the body is rotated at least once in a horizontal position
II. adjective
1. : of, relating to, or like a tub : using or kept in a tub
tub butter
2. : wash
tub silk
III. verb
( tubbed ; tubbed ; tubbing ; tubs )
transitive verb
1. : to wash or bathe in a tub
tubbing clothes bright and early on Monday
2. : to line (as a mine shaft) with tubbing : keep back water with tubbing — sometimes used with off
3.
a. : to put or store in a tub
always tubbed his pork in sweetened brine
b. : to plant in a tub
tubbed azalias
4. : to coach (a rower) in a tub
intransitive verb
1. : to use a bathtub : take a bath : bathe
2. : to undergo washing
synthetics that tub well
3. : to practice rowing in a tub