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 embankment had few culverts, severely cutting water flow from one side of the embankment to the other.

From MIT Technology Review

The fee we charge to maintain our pipes, culverts, drains and treatment facilities hasn’t been updated in almost 25 years, and as a result, we’ve fallen far behind on critically needed improvements to protect our beaches and waterways.

From Voice of San Diego

Lora is also looking for funds to surround the culvert with a large fence that curves at the top.

From ProPublica

Pennsylvania State Police tried to stop the vehicle, and shortly afterward it veered off the road, struck a culvert and came to a stop in a grassy area in Smithburg, Md.

From Washington Post

Near Amsterdam, for example, engineers have built extra culverts into some of the dikes meant to protect the city from storm surges, planning for a future where extra pump stations would need them to face a rising ocean.

From Time

She was driving to meet a reporter waiting in an Oklahoma City motel when she crashed into the concrete wing wall of a culvert.

From The Daily Beast

A culvert packed with explosives presents a particularly dangerous and challenging problem.

From The Daily Beast

A "culvert" is a bridge of small span giving passage to drainage.

From Project Gutenberg

"I don't know—I couldn't see—we ran into a culvert," replied Maud.

From Project Gutenberg

There was a shrieking streak of white and he disappeared under a culvert.

From Project Gutenberg

By these hornbeam trees a little streamlet flows out from the copse and under the road by a culvert.

From Project Gutenberg

Under the natural culvert, formed by the trunk fallen across, they cast their lines, using flies from their hook.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• duct
• gutter
• pipe