duct

[ duhkt ]

noun

1. any tube, canal, pipe, or conduit by which a fluid, air, or other substance is conducted or conveyed.
2. Anatomy, Zoology. a tube, canal, or vessel conveying a body fluid, especially a glandular secretion or excretion.
3. Botany. a cavity or vessel formed by elongated cells or by many cells.
4. Electricity. a single enclosed runway for conductors or cables.
5. Printing. (in a press) the reservoir for ink.

verb (used with object)

1. to convey or channel by means of a duct or ducts:

   Heat from the oven is ducted to the outside.

duct

/ dʌkt /

noun

1. a tube, pipe, or canal by means of which a substance, esp a fluid or gas, is conveyed
2. any bodily passage, esp one conveying secretions or excretions
3. a narrow tubular cavity in plants, often containing resin or some other substance
4. Also calledconduit a channel or pipe carrying electric cable or wires
5. a passage through which air can flow, as in air conditioning
6. the ink reservoir in a printing press

duct

/ dŭkt /

1. A tube or tubelike structure through which something flows, especially a tube in the body for carrying a fluid secreted that is by a gland.

Derived Forms

• ˈductless, adjective

Other Words From

• ductless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of duct¹

First recorded in 1640–50; from Latin ductus “conveyance (of water),” hence “channel” (in Medieval Latin ), equivalent to duc- (variant stem of dūcere “to lead”) + -tus suffix of verbal action

Word History and Origins

Origin of duct¹

C17: from Latin ductus a leading (in Medieval Latin: aqueduct), from dūcere to lead

Example Sentences

The patch is patterned with artificial sweat ducts, similar to human skin pores.

From MIT Technology Review

I’d camp instead of pay for a hotel, and I wore the same puffy jacket forever, patching holes with duct tape.

From Outside Online

When the baby is born, the luminal cells, which line the inside of the ducts, produce the proteins that comprise milk.

From Nautilus

The myoepithelial cells reside outside the ducts and work as muscles that squeeze the ducts to push milk out.

From Nautilus

The images of sprouting ducts look like blossoming trees in the spring while later they shrivel like plants do in the fall.

From Nautilus

With a bit of luck and duct tape, I thought we might put together enough votes to avoid a runoff.

From The Daily Beast

The windows were sealed shut around the edges by duct tape but still rattled when it got windy.

From The Daily Beast

He binds the little flyer with black plastic ties and seals her mouth with duct tape.

From The Daily Beast

Nobody was allowed in his room, where the windows were covered with black garbage bags secured with duct tape.

From The Daily Beast

The large roll of duct tape was still attached and found next to her head by firefighters.

From The Daily Beast

Another smaller lymph duct enters the right subclavian vein.

From Project Gutenberg

Above I could see the end of the duct faintly in the light coming up through the open chamber door from the utility room.

From Project Gutenberg

Having ligated the duct, he saw it swell below and become empty above the ligature.

From Project Gutenberg

The duct that bears his name was discovered during his residence in Leyden or at Amsterdam.

From Project Gutenberg

The ancient conception of the artery as an air-duct gave rise to the derivation from Gr.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• conduit
• tube