effluent
Americanadjective
noun
-
something that flows out or forth; outflow; effluence.
-
a stream flowing out of a lake, reservoir, etc.
-
sewage that has been treated in a septic tank or sewage treatment plant.
-
sewage or other liquid waste that is discharged into a body of water, etc.
noun
-
liquid discharged as waste, as from an industrial plant or sewage works
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radioactive waste released from a nuclear power station
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a stream that flows out of another body of water
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something that flows out or forth
adjective
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A stream flowing out of a body of water.
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An outflow or discharge of liquid waste, as from a sewage system, factory, or nuclear plant.
Other Word Forms
- supereffluent adjective
Etymology
Origin of effluent
1720–30; < Latin effluent- (stem of effluēns flowing out, present participle of effluere ), equivalent to ef- ef- + flu- flow + -ent- -ent
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.
His invention, it turned out, could also cleanse noxious vapors and particulates from smelter effluent, coal particles from mine air, and much more.
From Literature
The effluent glacier seems to run on a long curve westerly up to the Gobrin plateau.
From Literature
Trade effluent is the name given to the liquid waste produced by factories and businesses which typically ends up in the sewage system.
From BBC
Other treated effluent is discharged into rivers or the ocean.
From Los Angeles Times
The documents revealed hundreds of breaches of the company’s trade effluent consents.
From BBC
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.
