culvert

[kuhl-vert]

noun

1. a drain or channel crossing under a road, sidewalk, etc.; sewer; conduit.

culvert

/ ˈkʌlvət /

noun

1. a drain or covered channel that crosses under a road, railway, etc

2. a channel for an electric cable

3. a tunnel through which water is pumped into or out of a dry dock

Word History and Origins

Origin of culvert¹

First recorded in 1765–75; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of culvert¹

C18: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

The flooding in Cwmbwrla comes after issues caused by a collapsed culvert first emerged in September.

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While councils had spent heavily to repair and upgrade infrastructure in the wake of recent storms, the report found there were still issues with culverts in many places.

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The study, published Thursday in the journal Science, tracked air pollution emanating from a foamy, churning section of the river where water falls from culverts.

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The once-abundant fish disappeared after the concrete culvert, installed in 1952 to support the highway, blocked their ability to migrate between fresh- and saltwater.

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For example, these forces have prompted cougars to adapt by becoming more nocturnal, using culverts or taking riskier crossings across fragmented landscapes.

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Related Words

• duct 
• gutter 
• pipe