noun
Uncommon
gutter
GUHT-uh
Gutter (noun) means a channel along the edge of a road or roof that carries away rainwater. Example: “Leaves had clogged the gutter, so water was spilling over the edge of the roof.”
noun
1
A channel along the edge of a road or roof that carries away rainwater.
"Leaves had clogged the gutter, so water was spilling over the edge of the roof."
"The car splashed through a puddle in the gutter as it passed."
2
A morally low or degrading state or environment.
"He claimed the tabloid had dragged the whole story into the gutter."
verb
1
(of a candle flame) To flicker unsteadily as it burns down, as if about to go out.
"The candle guttered in the draught before finally dying out."
How to use gutter
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA channel that drains water away — or, figuratively, a degraded, sordid state ("gutter press", "gutter language").
Common pairings
clean the gutters
gutter press
in the gutter
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like gutter.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- gutters
- Third person singular
- gutters
- Past tense
- guttered
- Comparative
- more gutter
- Superlative
- most gutter
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Leaves had clogged the _____, so water was spilling over the edge of the roof.
Etymology
From Old French goutiere, based on Latin gutta ("a drop"), since a gutter carries away drops of rainwater.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for gutter
See all rhymes for gutter →Frequently asked questions
What does “gutter” mean?
The word “gutter” means a channel along the edge of a road or roof that carries away rainwater. In plain terms, a channel that drains water away — or, figuratively, a degraded, sordid state ("gutter press", "gutter language").
How do you pronounce “gutter”?
“Gutter” is pronounced GUHT-uh (/ˈɡʌt.ɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “gutter” in a sentence?
Here is “gutter” used in a sentence: “Leaves had clogged the gutter, so water was spilling over the edge of the roof.”
What part of speech is “gutter”?
Depending on how it is used, “gutter” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “gutter” come from?
The word “gutter” comes from Latin. From Old French goutiere, based on Latin gutta ("a drop"), since a gutter carries away drops of rainwater.
Is “gutter” a common word?
“Gutter” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “gutter” have?
“Gutter” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a channel along the edge of a road or roof that carries away rainwater.
