Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Bathing \Bath"ing\, n.
   Act of taking a bath or baths.

   {Bathing machine}, a small room on wheels, to be driven into
      the water, for the convenience of bathers, who undress and
      dress therein.

Bathe \Bathe\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Bathed} (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Bathing}.] [OE. ba?ien, AS. ba?ian, fr. b[ae]? bath. See 1st
   {Bath}, and cf. {Bay} to bathe.]
   1. To wash by immersion, as in a bath; to subject to a bath.

            Chancing to bathe himself in the River Cydnus.
                                                  --South.

   2. To lave; to wet. ``The lake which bathed the foot of the
      Alban mountain.'' --T. Arnold.

   3. To moisten or suffuse with a liquid.

            And let us bathe our hands in C[ae]sar's blood.
                                                  --Shak.

   4. To apply water or some liquid medicament to; as, to bathe
      the eye with warm water or with sea water; to bathe one's
      forehead with camphor.

   5. To surround, or envelop, as water surrounds a person
      immersed. ``The rosy shadows bathe me. '' --Tennyson.
      ``The bright sunshine bathing all the world.''
      --Longfellow.

Source : WordNet®

bathing
     n 1: immersing the body in water or sunshine
     2: the act of washing yourself (or another person) [syn: {washup}]