Definition

1. Noun:
   • A Finnish steam bath: A small room or building designed as a bath, where steam is generated by pouring water over heated rocks, creating a hot, humid environment for relaxation, cleansing, or social purposes.
   • The act or session of using such a bath: The activity of sitting in this hot, steamy environment.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • After skiing, we relaxed in the hotel's sauna.
  • A traditional Finnish sauna uses a wood-burning stove to heat the rocks.
  • He enjoys a 20-minute sauna session several times a week.

Advanced Usage

• "To take/have a sauna": To participate in a sauna session.
  • It's common in Finland to take a sauna and then cool off in a lake.

Variants and Related Words

• Sauna bath: Another term for a sauna, emphasizing its function as a type of bath.
• Sauna stove (or kiuas): The specific heater, often electric or wood-fired, used to heat the rocks in a sauna.

Synonyms

• Steam bath: A general term for a bath using steam, of which a sauna is a specific cultural type.
• Steam room: A room filled with steam, often found in gyms or spas; while similar, a traditional sauna typically has drier heat.

Related Idioms/Phrases

• "Sauna etiquette": Refers to the customary rules of behavior in a sauna, such as sitting on a towel, being quiet, or the order of heating and cooling.
  • Understanding sauna etiquette is important when visiting Finland.

Noun

1. a Finnish steam bath; steam is produced by pouring water over heated rocks