faucet
Americannoun
-
faucets
plural
noun
-
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.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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.
See Examples For:
The tiny home he built from scratch in 2020—“I never thought I’d get so pumped turning a faucet on”—burned down.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026
This is roughly equivalent to stopping an overflowing bathtub by shutting off the water to the entire apartment building because you cannot get to the faucet.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 31, 2026
Turning off the faucet: Antiretroviral therapy doesn't eliminate HIV altogether, but it minimizes its ability to replicate.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 13, 2026
That will help you realize things like this faucet doesn’t get hot water or I forgot to put an ice cream scoop in the kitchen.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
“Salty! Need...water,” he gasped, gulping water directly from the faucet spout.
From "The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street" by Karina Yan Glaser
Legionella can grow and spread in devices such as hot tubs, cooling towers, hot water tanks, complex plumbing systems, showerheads, sink faucets and decorative fountains, according to the California Department of Public Health.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 18, 2026
For the hardware, the couple will be replacing the existing silver-toned metal with gold, including new faucets, new drawer handles, and new knobs for the cupboards.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 8, 2026
The idea came about after another co-founder, a coder and glassblowing artist named Jim McKelvey, couldn’t sell one of his sculptural glass faucets because he couldn’t accept credit cards.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 3, 2026
Las Flores has recommended to customers that when they resume using water, they take various steps to flush the household system, including running all the faucets for at least five minutes before using.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 9, 2025
But her kindness shone in the little room as brightly as the gleaming white tiles and shiny faucets.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
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