Bowl vs. Basin — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on March 19, 2024
A bowl is typically a deep, round dish used for holding food or liquid, while a basin is a wider, shallow container used for various purposes, including washing.
Difference Between Bowl and Basin
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A bowl is designed for holding and serving food or liquids, often used in dining settings. Whereas, a basin is more versatile, used for washing, soaking, or containing items beyond food, like in bathrooms or kitchens.
Bowls are generally smaller and designed for individual use, making them ideal for serving portions of food or soup. On the other hand, basins are larger and suited for communal or utility purposes, such as washing dishes or clothes.
The shape of a bowl is deep with a rounded bottom, aimed at containing food items effectively, preventing spillage. Conversely, basins have a wider and shallower form, facilitating tasks like washing or soaking, where more surface area is beneficial.
Material-wise, bowls can be made from a variety of substances, including ceramic, glass, or plastic, tailored for food-related uses. Basins, however, are often made from more durable materials like stainless steel or plastic, to withstand heavier utility use.
In terms of placement, bowls are commonly found in the dining area, reflecting their primary role in food consumption. Basins, however, are located in more functional spaces, such as bathrooms and kitchens, highlighting their utilitarian nature.
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Comparison Chart
Primary Use
Holding and serving food or liquids
Washing, soaking, containing non-food items
Size & Shape
Smaller, deep, rounded
Larger, wider, shallower
Material
Ceramic, glass, plastic (food-safe materials)
Stainless steel, plastic (durable materials)
Location
Dining areas
Bathrooms, kitchens (utility spaces)
Functionality
Eating, serving
Washing, soaking, utility tasks
Compare with Definitions
Bowl
A deep, round dish for eating or serving food.
She served the soup in a ceramic bowl.
Basin
A wide, shallow container used for washing.
She filled the basin with warm water to wash the dishes.
Bowl
A natural or man-made depression in the ground.
The valley was shaped like a bowl.
Basin
A bowl-shaped geological formation.
The sedimentary basin has significant oil deposits.
Bowl
A term used in bowling to describe the action or the game itself.
They went out to bowl a few games on Saturday.
Basin
A critical area in science or engineering,
The test basin at the facility is used for model ship trials.
Bowl
A container used in various sports to hold objects.
The bowler picked a cricket ball from the bowl.
Basin
A geographical area drained by a river and its tributaries.
The Amazon basin is vast and biodiverse.
Bowl
A shaped part of a smoking pipe or spoon.
He packed the bowl of his pipe with tobacco.
Basin
A receptacle in bathrooms for washing hands and face.
He splashed cold water on his face from the basin.
Bowl
A bowl is a round dish or container typically used to prepare and serve food. The interior of a bowl is characteristically shaped like a spherical cap, with the edges and the bottom forming a seamless curve.
Basin
A wide open container used for preparing food or for holding liquid
She poured water from the jug into the basin
Bowl
A round, deep dish or basin used for food or liquid
A mixing bowl
A sugar bowl
Basin
A bowl for washing, typically attached to a wall and having taps connected to a water supply; a washbasin.
Bowl
A natural basin.
Basin
A circular or oval valley or natural depression on the earth's surface, especially one containing water
The loch is cupped in a shallow basin among low hills
Bowl
A stadium for sporting or musical events
The Hollywood Bowl
Basin
An open, shallow, usually round container used especially for holding liquids.
Bowl
A wooden or hard rubber ball, slightly asymmetrical so that it runs on a curved course, used in the game of bowls.
Basin
The amount that such a vessel can hold.
Bowl
A spell or turn of bowling in cricket.
Basin
A washbowl; a sink.
Bowl
Roll (a ball or other round object) along the ground
She snatched her hat off and bowled it ahead of her
Basin
A body of water that is connected to the sea and is partially or almost completely enclosed by land.
Bowl
(of a bowler) propel (the ball) with a straight arm towards the batsman, typically in such a way that the ball bounces once
Sobers bowled to Willis
Lillee bowled another bouncer
Basin
A small body of water that is artificially enclosed.
Bowl
Move rapidly and smoothly in a specified direction
They bowled along the country roads
Basin
See watershed.
Bowl
A hemispherical vessel, wider than it is deep, used for holding food or fluids.
Basin
A broad tract of land in which the rock strata are tilted toward a common center.
Bowl
The contents of such a vessel.
Basin
A large, bowl-shaped depression in the surface of the land or ocean floor.
Bowl
A drinking goblet.
Basin
A wide bowl for washing, sometimes affixed to a wall.
Bowl
A bowl-shaped part, as of a spoon or pipe.
Basin
(obsolete) A shallow bowl used for a single serving of a drink or liquidy food.
Bowl
A bowl-shaped topographic depression.
Basin
A depression, natural or artificial, containing water.
Bowl
A bowl-shaped stadium or outdoor theater.
Basin
(geography) An area of land from which water drains into a common outlet; drainage basin.
Bowl
(Football) Any of various postseason games played between specially selected teams, especially at the college level.
Basin
(geography) A shallow depression in a rock formation, such as an area of down-folded rock that has accumulated a thick layer of sediments, or an area scooped out by water erosion.
Bowl
A ball, traditionally made of wood, that is weighted or slightly flattened so as to roll with a bias, used in lawn bowling.
Basin
To create a concavity or depression in.
Bowl
A roll or throw of a ball in lawn bowling and other bowling games.
Basin
To serve as or become a basin.
Bowl
Bowls(used with a sing. verb) See lawn bowling.
Basin
To shelter or enclose in a basin.
Bowl
A revolving cylinder or drum in a machine.
Basin
A hollow vessel or dish, to hold water for washing, and for various other uses.
Bowl
To participate in a game of bowling
I bowl every Thursday night in a league.
Basin
The quantity contained in a basin.
Bowl
To throw or roll a ball in a game of bowling
It's your turn to bowl.
Basin
A hollow vessel, of various forms and materials, used in the arts or manufactures, as that used by glass grinders for forming concave glasses, by hatters for molding a hat into shape, etc.
Bowl
To hurl a cricket ball from one end of the pitch toward the batsman at the other, keeping the arm straight throughout the delivery.
Basin
A hollow place containing water, as a pond, a dock for ships, a little bay.
Bowl
To move quickly and smoothly, especially by rolling
The sportscar bowled along through the countryside.
Basin
A circular or oval valley, or depression of the surface of the ground, the lowest part of which is generally occupied by a lake, or traversed by a river.
Bowl
To throw or roll (a ball).
Basin
An isolated or circumscribed formation, particularly where the strata dip inward, on all sides, toward a center; - especially applied to the coal formations, called coal basins or coal fields.
Bowl
To make (a specified score) in bowling
Placed first by bowling 237.
Bowled a strike in the first frame.
Basin
A bowl-shaped vessel; usually used for holding food or liquids;
She mixed the dough in a large basin
Bowl
To perform (a specified amount, as a string or game) in bowling
She bowled eight frames before deciding to use a different ball.
Basin
The quantity that a basin will hold;
A basinful of water
Bowl
To move quickly and smoothly by or as if by rolling
Bowled a tire from the garage.
Basin
A natural depression in the surface of the land often with a lake at the bottom of it;
The basin of the Great Salt Lake
Bowl
To meet or strike with or as if with the force of a rapidly rolling object
The swimmer was bowled over by the wave.
Basin
The entire geographical area drained by a river and its tributaries;
Flood control in the Missouri basin
Bowl
A roughly hemispherical container used to hold, mix or present food, such as salad, fruit or soup, or other items.
Basin
A bathroom or lavatory sink that is permanently installed and connected to a water supply and drainpipe; where you wash your hands and face;
He ran some water in the basin and splashed it on his face
Bowl
As much as is held by a bowl.
You can’t have any more soup – you’ve had three bowls already.
Bowl
(cooking) A dish comprising a mix of different foods, not all of which need be cooked, served in a bowl.
This restaurant offers a number of different bowls.
Poke bowl
Bowl
A haircut in which straight hair is cut at an even height around the edges, forming a bowl shape.
Bowl
The round hollow part of anything.
Direct the cleaning fluid around the toilet bowl and under the rim.
Bowl
The part of a spoon that holds content, as opposed to the handle.
Bowl
A part of a pipe or bong packed with marijuana for smoking
Let's smoke a bowl!
Bowl
(typography) A rounded portion of a glyph that encloses empty space, as in the letters d and o.
Bowl
(landforms) A round crater (or similar) in the ground.
Bowl
An elliptical-shaped stadium or amphitheater resembling a bowl.
Bowl
(American football) A postseason football competition, a bowl game (i.e. Rose Bowl, Super Bowl)
Bowl
The ball rolled by players in the game of lawn bowls.
Bowl
The action of bowling a ball.
Bowl
The game of bowls.
Bowl
(transitive) To roll or throw (a ball) in the correct manner in cricket and similar games and sports.
Bowl
(intransitive) To throw the ball (in cricket and similar games and sports).
Bowl
(intransitive) To play bowling or a similar game.
Bowl
To roll or carry smoothly on, or as on, wheels.
We were bowled rapidly along the road.
Bowl
To pelt or strike with anything rolled.
Bowl
A concave vessel of various forms (often approximately hemispherical), to hold liquids, etc.
Brought them food in bowls of basswood.
Bowl
Specifically, a drinking vessel for wine or other spirituous liquors; hence, convivial drinking.
Bowl
The contents of a full bowl; what a bowl will hold.
Bowl
The hollow part of a thing; as, the bowl of a spoon.
Bowl
A ball of wood or other material used for rolling on a level surface in play; a ball of hard wood having one side heavier than the other, so as to give it a bias when rolled.
Bowl
An ancient game, popular in Great Britain, played with biased balls on a level plat of greensward.
Like an uninstructed bowler, . . . who thinks to attain the jack by delivering his bowl straightforward upon it.
Bowl
The game of tenpins or bowling.
Bowl
To roll, as a bowl or cricket ball.
Break all the spokes and fellies from her wheel,And bowl the round nave down the hill of heaven.
Bowl
To roll or carry smoothly on, or as on, wheels; as, we were bowled rapidly along the road.
Bowl
To pelt or strike with anything rolled.
Alas, I had rather be set quick i' the earth,And bowled to death with turnips
Bowl
To play with bowls.
Bowl
To roll a ball on a plane, as at cricket, bowls, etc.
Bowl
To move rapidly, smoothly, and like a ball; as, the carriage bowled along.
Bowl
A round vessel that is open at the top; used for holding fruit or liquids or for serving food
Bowl
A concave shape with an open top
Bowl
A dish that is round and open at the top for serving foods
Bowl
The quantity contained in a bowl
Bowl
A large structure for open-air sports or entertainments
Bowl
A wooden ball (with flattened sides) used in the game of bowls
Bowl
A small round container that is open at the top for holding tobacco
Bowl
Roll (a ball)
Bowl
Engage in the sport of bowling;
My parents like to bowl on Friday nights
Common Curiosities
Can basins be used for food?
While not common, basins can be used for food-related tasks on a larger scale, like washing fruits.
What materials are bowls made of?
Bowls can be made of ceramic, glass, plastic, and more, depending on their use.
What is the primary use of a bowl?
Bowls are primarily used for holding and serving food or liquids.
Are bowls and basins interchangeable?
They are not typically interchangeable due to differences in size, shape, and intended use.
Is there a specific size that differentiates a bowl from a basin?
Size can vary widely, but bowls are generally smaller and deeper, while basins are larger and shallower.
Where are bowls commonly found?
Bowls are commonly found in dining areas for food consumption.
What is a geological basin?
A geological basin is a large depression on the earth's surface where sediments accumulate.
How does the design of a bowl benefit its primary use?
The deep, rounded design helps contain liquids and food effectively.
What materials are basins made of?
Basins are often made of stainless steel, plastic, or other durable materials.
Can a bowl be used as a basin?
Small washing or soaking tasks might use a bowl as a makeshift basin, but it's not ideal for larger tasks.
Where are basins commonly found?
Basins are found in bathrooms, kitchens, and utility spaces for washing and soaking.
Why are basins typically wider and shallower?
The wider, shallower design facilitates washing, soaking, and handling of non-food items efficiently.
Are there bowls designed for non-food uses?
Yes, some bowls are designed for specific non-food uses, like those in smoking pipes.
Can both bowls and basins be made of plastic?
Yes, both can be made of plastic, but the plastic type may vary based on their intended use.
How do you clean a basin differently from a bowl?
Basins may require stronger cleaning agents for non-food residues, unlike most bowls.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
