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drainpipe

American  
[dreyn-pahyp] / ˈdreɪnˌpaɪp /

noun

  1. a large pipe that carries away the discharge of waste pipes, pipe, soil pipes, pipe, etc.

drainpipe British  
/ ˈdreɪnˌpaɪp /

noun

  1. a pipe for carrying off rainwater, sewage, etc; downpipe

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of drainpipe

First recorded in 1855–60; drain + pipe 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"The lad had shimmied up a drainpipe on the outside of the building because he didn't want to go through the reception and ask."

From BBC

Some buildings still have antique drainpipes and guttering - often an important design feature - which can overflow in heavy rain, sometimes damaging interiors as well as exteriors.

From BBC

A cat had to be rescued by fire crews after getting stuck in a drainpipe.

From BBC

One photograph, which she said was taken in Kenya, showed her in uniform in an office - with a very British looking drainpipe through the double-glazed window behind her.

From BBC

One step was complete; now she had to cross the cornice over to a drainpipe.

From Literature

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.