Toilet and Bathroom Glossary

Aerator - a mechanism at the end of a faucet or washlet jet which allows air to mix with the flowing water for a softer feel.

Air Dry - a feature on some washlets that uses a precisely aimed stream of warm air to dry one's nether regions hands-free

Air Purifier - automatic deodorizing feature available on some washlets

Antimicrobial Toilet Seat - a toilet seat constructed with antimicrobial agents integrated directly into the material to inhibit mold and bacteria growth

Apron - a front cover on some bathtubs running from floor to rim; also known as a skirt

Auto-flush - a feature on modern toilets that senses when the seat is vacated, triggering an automatic flush

Ballcock - device consisting of a valve connected to floating ball, which by rising and falling opens and closes the valve, thus regulating the flow of water in a tank

Ball Passage - indicates the size of the trapway by referencing the size of the ball that can fit through it; standards are set by a minimum-sized ball and the trap size is about 10% larger than the largest ball standard that can pass through it

Basin - a vessel with sloped sides and curved bottom designed to hold water; may refer to the sink or toilet bowl

Bidet - bathroom fixture that cleans the body's nether regions with a gentle stream of water rather than with bathroom tissue

Bidet Seat - inexpensive alternative to a standalone bidet that attaches to an existing toilet and functions as a bidet

Bisque - unglazed fired clay such as the inside or bottom of a toilet tank

Bowl - the water-holding portion of the toilet designed to accept and flush out waste; two standard designs are round-front and elongated-front

Centerset - bathroom faucet with combined spout and handles

Cistern - toilet tank or other fabricated water reservoir

Close-coupled - also known as a two-piece toilet, this design features a bowl and tank components joined together

Cock - valve regulating the flow of water

Commode - a non-plumbing toilet that houses a chamber-pot-type receptacle below an open seat

Concealed Trapway - toilet trapway discreetly located at the back of the toilet base for aesthetic purposes

Cover - the top portion of a toilet tank or toilet seat

Cycle Time - length of time required for a toilet to refill its tank after a flush

Dam - barrier in a toilet's trapway that determines water level in the bowl

Elongated Front - a toilet with an elongated front end, typically measuring about 18.5 inches from front to back; this is the common choice for standard bathrooms

FIP - acronym standing for "female iron pipe," specifically piping with internal threading

Fitting - broad term applied to faucets, shower heads, valves, spouts, and fixtures

Fixture - another broad term applied to faucets, shower heads, valves, and spouts, though also to larger features such as showers, tubs, sinks, and toilets

Flapper - part of the flush valve that seals in water or allows it to exit the toilet tank; also known as the flush ball

Float Ball - hollow floating ball connected to the ballcock within the toilet tank; rises and falls with water levels to open and close valve as needed

Flushing Surface - refers to the interior portion of the toilet bowl that comes into contact with water during flushing

Flushometer Tank System - flushing system that compresses water and builds pressure to deliver a forceful flush (as opposed to a gravity flush)

Flush Valve - in a gravity flush system, the bottom valve that opens with the activation of trip lever and closes when the float ball reaches the determined level within the tank

Glaze - glossy, water-resistant finish applied to fired clay for aesthetic and protective purposes

GPF - gallons per flush; specifically how many gallons of water are used with each flush of a toilet

GPM - gallons per minute; refers to the flow rate of a toilet

Gravity Flush Toilet - toilet design that utilizes downward pressure on the water in a toilet tank causes by gravity; also known as a gravity-fed toilet

Head - the downward pressure on water in a toilet tank caused by gravity

Heated Seat - washlet seats equipped with heating elements calibrated to warm the seat and water to match the body's temperature

Hydrotherapy - homeopathic healing and stress-relief method using water flow and massage

IPS - acronym standing for "iron pipe size;" refers to piping threads

Jet - in a toilet, a stream projected to guide water quickly through the trapway

Low-Consumption Toilet - an efficient toilet with a low gallons-per-flush (GPF) rate; specifically 1.6 GPF or less

MIP - acronym standing for "male iron pipe," specifically piping with external threading

One-Handle Faucet - a single-faucet fixture that controls the flow of hot and cold water

One-Piece Toilet - a sleek, modern toilet design ideal for use in small bathrooms. Available in round or elongated bowls and a variety of heights and more affordable than the modern tankless toilet.

Open Front - toilet seat design with an open space of about 3-4 inches at the front end; these are considered more sanitary and are often used in commercial settings

Overflow Tube - vertically arranged tube inside a toilet tank that prevents overflow in the event of ballcock malfunction

Pop-up Assembly - faucet drain mechanism which connects a pop-up rod to the drain stopper

Potty Chair - a toilet-training product designed for children

Priming Jet - opening in toilet bowl that allows water from the tank to propel waste into the trapway

Pull Chain - old toilet style with separate bowl and tank components, the latter mounted at head height and connected to the bowl with a flush pipe; a chain is used to pull the trip lever

Push Button - type of toilet employing an actuator button to begin the flush instead of a trip lever

Push-Button Diverter - a button on a shower faucet that diverts water flow from bath to shower

Refill Tube - tube inside toilet tank that directs water from ballcock into the overflow tube during the refill segment of the flush cycle

Rim - may refer to the inside edge of a toilet bowl, the top of the toilet bowl, the lower portion of toilet seat, and/or the edge of sink

Rim Holes - holes located on the underside of the toilet rim through which incoming water flows down into the bowl

Rough-in Dimensions - distance between the center of a plumbing waste hole, mounting hole, or water-supply hole and the nearest wall

Rounded Front - a toilet with a rounded front; these are ideal for smaller bathrooms and typically measure about 16.5 inches from front to back

Self-Close Seat - toilet seat with integrated resistance mechanisms to ensure soft, slow lid closing

Shroud - toilet, sink, or other housing that conceals plumbing from view

Single-Control Faucet - a one-handle faucet fixture that controls the flow of both hot and cold water; also known as a one-handle faucet

Siphon Break - the point during a flush cycle when air is reintroduced to the trapway; marked by a characteristic gurgling sound

Siphoning - suction effect caused by the point at which atmospheric pressure is great enough to force liquid from a reservoir through a tube and over a height barrier; in a toilet this takes place in the trapway as the toilet fills with outgoing water

Skirt - a front cover on some bathtubs running from floor to rim; also known as an apron

Suite - coordinating bathroom fixtures, such as a sink, bathtub, and toilet

Supply Stop - valve controlling water flow to the toilet, usually located on the wall next to the toilet fixture

Tank - a toilet's water reservoir; houses ballcock, flush valve, and overflow tubes

Tankless Toilets - typically characterized by a sleek, modern design and special features such as easy-close seats and quiet flushing mechanisms; sits higher off the ground

Three-Handle Faucet - bathtub/shower fixture with separate controls for hot and cold water and a third to divert water flow from spout to shower head

Trapway - toilet conduit connecting the toilet bowl to the floor's waste outlet; see ball passage

Trapway Seal - water seal that prevents waste fumes from entering bathroom; measured from trapway inlet to top of tank dam

Trip Lever - the external level pulled to start the flush cycle

Two-Handle Faucet - faucet fixture with separate controls for hot and cold water

Two-Piece Toilet - typically the standard toilet comprised of a tank and bowl. This toilet design offers the widest variety of styles, sizes, and colors.

ULF - acronym for "ultra-low flush"; refers to toilets using 1.6 or fewer GPF

Urinal - type of toilet designed to receive liquid waste; uses a trap seal and gravity drainage to evacuate waste

Vessel Lavatory - a sink basin designed to appear as though it is freestanding on the countertop

Vitreous China - ceramic plumbing materials, usually coated with ceramic glaze

Washlet - a toilet feature providing warm-water, bidet-style washing along with other options

Water Closet - enclosed room containing a toilet bowl fitted with a flush mechanism using gravity drainage; can also refer to a bathroom

Water-Saving Toilet - a toilet rated at 1.6 or fewer GPF; see ULF (ultra-low flush)

Water Spot - length-by-width dimensions of the water surface in the toilet bowl after a completed flush cycle; this is determined by the trapway dam

Whirlpool Jets - typically in bathtubs, small spouts emit forceful streams for water circulation or massage

Whirlpool Tub - a bathtub that incorporates whirlpool jets into its design

Widespread Faucet - type of lavatory faucet with separate hot and cold handles set apart from the spout /p>