US /sluːs/ UK /sluːs/
noun verb Freq #26826

Meanings

  1. 1
    noun

    an artificial channel or gate that controls a rapid flow of water

    The miners opened the sluice to wash gravel through the wooden trough.

  2. 2
    verb

    to wash, flush, or drench with a strong stream of water

    Workers sluiced the mud from the pavement after the flood.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 noun · an artificial channel or... sluicewaypenstockfloodgate
2 verb · to wash, flush, or drench... flushwashdouse
Word family
Forms sluicing
Derived forms sluicersluicingsluiceway
Related forms channelweirlock

Etymology

From Middle English scluse or sluse, through Anglo-Norman escluse from Late Latin exclusa, 'a barrier or gate,' related to Latin excludere, 'to shut out.'

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