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.
“Even if there is a good resolution, this isn’t a faucet that can turn back on. We don’t have a peace button you can push to restart those wells.”
From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026
Door handles, faucet knobs, and flush levers tend to be more contaminated because they are frequently touched, often with unwashed hands.
From Science Daily • Apr. 13, 2026
“Even if the strait were to effectively open tomorrow, you can’t turn the faucet back on,” said Angie Gildea, global head of oil and gas at KPMG.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 28, 2026
You know to turn the faucet in the bathroom off while rinsing out your swimsuit but something distracts you.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026
My face is officially a five-spout faucet: tears pouring from both eyes, snot flowing, bit of drool running down, the whole deal.
From "Odd One Out" by Nic Stone
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.
