First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
1sluice
noun \ˈslüs\
: an artificial passage for water to flow through with a gate for controlling the flow
: a device (such as a floodgate) used for controlling the flow of water
Full Definition of SLUICE
1
a : an artificial passage for water (as in a millstream) fitted with a valve or gate for stopping or regulating flow b : a body of water pent up behind a floodgate
2
: a dock gate : floodgate
3
a : a stream flowing through a floodgate b : a channel to drain or carry off surplus water
4
: a long inclined trough usually on the ground; especially : such a contrivance paved usually with riffles to hold quicksilver for catching gold
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Origin of SLUICE
Middle English sluse, alteration of scluse, from Anglo-French escluse, from Late Latin exclusa, from Latin, feminine of exclusus, past participle of excludere to exclude
Other Civil Engineering Terms
2sluice
verb
: to wash or spray (something or someone) with a stream of water
: to flow or pour down heavily
sluicedsluic·ing
Full Definition of SLUICE
transitive verb
1
: to draw off by or through a sluice
2
a : to wash with or in water running through or from a sluice b : to drench with a sudden flow : flush
3
: to transport (as logs) in a sluice
intransitive verb
: to pour as if from a sluice
See sluice defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of SLUICE
1596
SLUICE Defined for Kids
1sluice
noun \ˈslüs\
Definition of SLUICE for Kids
1
: a man-made channel for water with a gate for controlling its flow or changing its direction
2
: a device for controlling the flow of water
3
: a sloping trough for washing ore or for floating logs
2sluice
verb
sluicedsluic·ing
Definition of SLUICE for Kids
1
: to wash in a stream of water running through a sluice
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