noun
tailpipe
TAYL-pyp
Tailpipe (noun) means the pipe at the rear of a vehicle through which exhaust gases are released. Example: “Thick smoke poured from the truck's tailpipe.”
noun
1
The pipe at the rear of a vehicle through which exhaust gases are released.
"As much of Seattle tries to sleep, the Hellcat supercar goes on the prowl, the howls of its engine and the explosive backfires from its tailpipes echoing off the high-rise towers downtown."
— Mike Baker, Sleepless in Seattle as a Hellcat Roars Through the Streets (2024)
"Thick smoke poured from the truck's tailpipe."
"This car doesn't have a tailpipe because it has sidepipes instead."
"Today's cars emit less NoX at the tailpipe than their 20th-century predecessors did."
How to use tailpipe
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe pipe at the back of a car where the exhaust comes out.
Common pairings
exhaust tailpipe
tailpipe emissions
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Word forms
- Plural
- tailpipes
- Third person singular
- tailpipes
- Past tense
- tailpiped
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Thick smoke poured from the truck's _____.
Etymology
A compound of tail and pipe.
Rhymes for tailpipe
See all rhymes for tailpipe →Frequently asked questions
What does “tailpipe” mean?
The word “tailpipe” means the pipe at the rear of a vehicle through which exhaust gases are released. In plain terms, the pipe at the back of a car where the exhaust comes out.
How do you pronounce “tailpipe”?
“Tailpipe” is pronounced TAYL-pyp (/ˈteɪlpaɪp/ in IPA).
How do you use “tailpipe” in a sentence?
Here is “tailpipe” used in a sentence: “Thick smoke poured from the truck's tailpipe.”
What part of speech is “tailpipe”?
“Tailpipe” is a noun.
