a bidet

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A low bathroom fixture with a basin and water supply, used for washing the lower body.

   Grammar: Countable: a bidet, the bidet, two bidets. It is a fixture, not a verb.

   Patterns

   • use a bidet
   • install a bidet
   • a bidet in the bathroom

   The hotel room had a bidet next to the toilet.

   She installed a bidet in the main bathroom during the renovation.

   Many people use a bidet for personal cleaning after using the toilet.

2. 2nouncountable

   A small handheld or attachable device that sprays water for personal cleaning.

   Grammar: Countable, often used with 'handheld' or 'portable': a handheld bidet.

   Patterns

   • a handheld bidet
   • a bidet attachment
   • fit a bidet to something

   They fitted a handheld bidet to the toilet in the small bathroom.

   A portable bidet can be useful when you travel.

Word forms

Common combinations

use a bidet

First-time visitors often ask how to use a bidet.

install a bidet

They decided to install a bidet when they remodeled the bathroom.

a bidet attachment

A bidet attachment is cheaper than replacing the whole toilet.

a bidet in the bathroom

The apartment listing mentioned a bidet in the bathroom.

Synonyms and how they differ

washlet

Washlet is a brand name for a toilet seat with built-in washing functions; it is more specific than bidet.

toilet spray

Toilet spray is a general term for a handheld sprayer; a bidet is the fixture or device itself.

Commonly confused: a bidet or toilet? a bidet or sink?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “a bidet”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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