outlet

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   activity that frees or expresses creative energy or emotion

   They had no other outlet for their feelings.

2. 2
   noun

   Something which allows for the release of one's desires.

   Jamie found doing martial arts was a great outlet for her stress.

3. 3
   noun

   A wall-mounted socket connected to an electrical power supply, at which current can be taken to run electrical devices.

   I had to move the cupboard to get to the power outlet.

4. 4
   noun

   an opening that permits escape or release

5. 5
   noun

   a place of business for retailing goods

6. 6
   noun

   receptacle providing a place in a wiring system where current can be taken to run electrical devices

7. 7
   noun

   A vent or similar passage to allow the escape of something.

8. 8
   noun

   A river that runs out of a lake.

Etymology

From Middle English outlete, outeleate, ut-lete, derived from Middle English outleten (“to allow, let out, emit”), equivalent to out- + let. Compare West Frisian útlit (“outlet”), Dutch uitlaat (“outlet”), German Auslass (“outlet”).