faucet
Americannoun
noun
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a tap fitted to a barrel
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Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): tap. a valve by which a fluid flow from a pipe can be controlled by opening and closing an orifice
Regionalisms
Spigot is a common variant for faucet and is widely used in the Midland U.S. Elsewhere, faucet is more commonly used, especially in the Northern U.S.
Etymology
Origin of faucet
1350–1400; Middle English < Middle French fausset peg for a vent, perhaps equivalent to fauss ( er ) to force in, damage, warp, literally, to falsify (< Late Latin falsāre; see false) + -et -et
Explanation
Water comes out of your faucet and into your sink or bathtub. A faucet is a device that allows you to turn the flow of water on and off. The faucet is not just the metal part that the water comes through, it is the whole mechanism for controlling the flow of water. If you cry easily, someone might say you are a regular faucet. This is because water comes out of your eyes more often than it does for most people. If you ask your parents a little too often for cash, they might joke that they're going to turn off the money faucet.
Vocabulary lists containing faucet
Unit 15, Lessons 1–2
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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.
Faucet filters can cost from $150 to $250.
From Washington Post • Aug. 23, 2022
Faucet size can definitely influence which final finish choice makes the most sense.
From Seattle Times • Apr. 11, 2022
Moen’s latest smart faucet — the Moen Smart Faucet with Motion Control — adds completely handle-free operation to its connected tap.
From The Verge • Jan. 6, 2022
But manufacturers like HEWI, Kohler, Delta Faucet Company, and Watermark Designs have made huge strides recently.
From The Wall Street Journal • Aug. 23, 2018
“Come to think of it, there has been no news of Admiral Faucet since I too jumped ship. I hope he is all right.”
From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood
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.
