kettle
KEH-tuhl
Kettle (noun) means a container with a spout used for boiling water. Example: “She put the kettle on as soon as guests arrived.”
noun
1
A container with a spout used for boiling water.
"She put the kettle on as soon as guests arrived."
"The kettle whistled loudly on the stove."
verb
1
Of police: to confine a crowd of protesters or demonstrators within a tight cordon.
"Officers kettled the protesters for several hours near the square."
How to use kettle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost commonly the pot you boil water in; also a policing tactic of penning in a crowd.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
boil the kettle
put the kettle on
kettle protesters
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- kettles
- Past tense
- kettled
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She put the _____ on as soon as guests arrived.
Etymology
From Old English cietel, related to Old Norse ketill, both ultimately from a Germanic word for a vessel or cauldron; the policing sense is a modern figurative extension, comparing a contained crowd to water trapped in a kettle.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for kettle
See all rhymes for kettle →Frequently asked questions
What does “kettle” mean?
The word “kettle” means a container with a spout used for boiling water. In plain terms, most commonly the pot you boil water in; also a policing tactic of penning in a crowd.
How do you pronounce “kettle”?
“Kettle” is pronounced KEH-tuhl (/ˈkɛ.təl/ in IPA).
How do you use “kettle” in a sentence?
Here is “kettle” used in a sentence: “She put the kettle on as soon as guests arrived.”
What part of speech is “kettle”?
Depending on how it is used, “kettle” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “kettle” come from?
The word “kettle” comes from Old English.
Is “kettle” a common word?
“Kettle” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “kettle” have?
“Kettle” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a container with a spout used for boiling water.
What is the difference between a kettle and a teapot?
A kettle is a container with a spout used specifically for boiling water, while a teapot is used for brewing and serving tea after the water has already been boiled. Water is typically boiled in a kettle first, then poured into a teapot.
What does it mean when police 'kettle' protesters?
When used of police, to kettle means to confine a crowd of protesters or demonstrators within a tight cordon. This verb usage is distinct from the everyday noun sense of kettle referring to a water-boiling container.
Is 'kettle' as a police tactic formal or informal?
The police sense of kettle, meaning to confine a crowd within a tight cordon, is commonly used in news and everyday reporting on protests. It functions as a specific verb usage separate from the household object.
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