gutter

Language: en

🇬🇧 /ˈgʌtə/ 🇺🇸 /ˈgʌtɜr/

📖 Definitions

  1. noun
    A shallow trough fixed beneath the edge of a roof for carrying off rainwater.; A low channel at the side of a road or street for carrying off surface water.; The lowest or most debased level of society or human behavior; a state of moral degradation.; The space between facing pages of a book or between columns of text.; In bowling, the channel on either side of the lane into which a ball may fall.
  2. verb
    To flow in streams, as a liquid; to run in rivulets.; To burn low and unsteadily; to flicker, as a candle or flame.

🔗 Details

Word forms

countable Plural: gutters 3rd sing.: gutters Past: guttered Past part.: guttered Pres part.: guttering

Collocations

in the guttergutter pressgutter languagegutter instinctgutter snipe

Derivatives

gutteringguttered

Synonyms

channeldraintroughditchconduit

Commonly confused

gully
EN: A gully is a larger natural channel or ravine formed by water erosion, while a gutter is a man-made channel along a roof or street edge.
curb
EN: The curb is the raised edge of a sidewalk, while the gutter is the channel beside it that collects runoff water.

Spelling tips

EN: Remember 'gutter' has a double 't'. Do not confuse with 'guter'. The derived form is 'guttering' (not 'gutterring').

💬 Examples

  1. The leaves clogged the gutter and caused water to overflow onto the path.

  2. Rainwater flowed down the gutter toward the storm drain.

  3. He rose from the gutter to become a successful businessman.

  4. The designer adjusted the gutter width to improve readability.

  5. His first ball went straight into the gutter.

  6. The candle wax guttered down the side of the holder.

  7. The flame guttered in the draft before going out entirely.