showerhead

showerhead — noun

1. the flat or rounded device attached at the end of a pipe in a shower that releas

1.nounB1
Definition

the flat or rounded device attached at the end of a pipe in a shower that releases water in a spray of many small streams, allowing a person to wash

Example

Linh cleaned the showerhead when the water flow became too weak.

collocation: clean the showerhead

The showerhead in Asher's bathroom offers three different spray settings.

collocation: spray settings

Common collocations
  • replace a showerhead
  • clean a showerhead
  • adjustable showerhead
  • handheld showerhead
  • rainfall showerhead
  • showerhead filter
  • showerhead settings
Synonyms
  • shower head

    variant spelling, written as two separate words

  • shower rose

    mainly British English, usually for flat circular designs

Usage Note

Commonly described by adjectives for water flow (rainfall, massage, mist) or design (handheld, fixed, square, round).

Common Mistakes

The shower's head needs replacing.
The showerhead needs replacing.
Compound nouns for everyday objects are not formed with possessive 's'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All three terms refer to the same bathroom device, but they differ in spelling and regional use. 'Showerhead' (one word) is the standard spelling in modern dictionaries and everyday writing. 'Shower head' (two words) is an older variant still seen in some product catalogues. 'Shower rose' is primarily British English and typically describes a flat, wide circular design that sprays water outward — the name comes from its resemblance to a flower. An American English speaker would say 'I need to replace the showerhead,' while a British speaker might say 'The shower rose needs descaling.' For learners, using 'showerhead' as one word is the safest choice in both speech and writing.

showerhead ↗shower headshower rose

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • change the showerhead
  • install a showerhead
  • remove the showerhead

Prepositions

  • from the showerhead
  • on the showerhead

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Showerhead combines 'shower' (from Old English 'scur,' meaning a short fall of rain) and 'head' (from Old English 'heafod,' the upper part of the body). The compound emerged in the late 1800s as indoor plumbing became common in homes, replacing earlier terms like 'shower rose' and 'shower bath plate.'