noun
sluice
sloos
Sluice (noun) means a gate or channel that controls the flow of water, often found in canals or dams. Example: “The lock keeper opened the sluice to let the water level drop.”
noun
1
A gate or channel that controls the flow of water, often found in canals or dams.
"The lock keeper opened the sluice to let the water level drop."
verb
1
To wash something thoroughly with a flow of water.
"to sluice earth or gold dust in a sluice box in placer mining"
"Prospectors used to sluice river gravel to separate out gold."
How to use sluice
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA controlled channel or gate for water, or the act of flushing something clean with water.
Common pairings
open the sluice
sluice gate
sluice down
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Word forms
- Plural
- sluices
- Third person singular
- sluices
- Past tense
- sluiced
Fill the gap
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The lock keeper opened the _____ to let the water level drop.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman "escluse" meaning floodgate, ultimately from Latin "exclūdere," "to shut out" — the same root as "exclude."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for sluice
See all rhymes for sluice →Frequently asked questions
What does “sluice” mean?
The word “sluice” means a gate or channel that controls the flow of water, often found in canals or dams. In plain terms, a controlled channel or gate for water, or the act of flushing something clean with water.
How do you pronounce “sluice”?
“Sluice” is pronounced sloos (/sluːs/ in IPA).
How do you use “sluice” in a sentence?
Here is “sluice” used in a sentence: “The lock keeper opened the sluice to let the water level drop.”
What part of speech is “sluice”?
Depending on how it is used, “sluice” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “sluice” come from?
The word “sluice” comes from Latin. From Anglo-Norman "escluse" meaning floodgate, ultimately from Latin "exclūdere," "to shut out" — the same root as "exclude.".
How many meanings does “sluice” have?
“Sluice” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a gate or channel that controls the flow of water, often found in canals or dams.
