gulf

[guhlf]

noun

1. a portion of an ocean or sea partly enclosed by land.

2. a deep hollow; chasm or abyss.

   Synonyms: split, rift, cleft, gully, gorge, canyon

3. any wide separation, as in position, status, or education.

4. something that engulfs or swallows up.

verb (used with object)

1. to swallow up; engulf.

Gulf

¹

/ ɡʌlf /

noun

1. the Persian Gulf

2. 1. the Gulf of Carpentaria

   2. (modifier) of, relating to, or adjoining the Gulf

      Gulf country

3. the Hauraki Gulf

gulf

²

/ ɡʌlf /

noun

1. a large deep bay

2. a deep chasm

3. something that divides or separates, such as a lack of understanding

4. something that engulfs, such as a whirlpool

verb

1. (tr) to swallow up; engulf

gulf

1. A large body of ocean or sea water that is partly surrounded by land.

Other Word Forms

• gulflike adjective
• gulfy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gulf¹

1300–50; Middle English go ( u ) lf < Old French golfe < Italian golfo < Late Greek kólphos, Greek kólpos bosom, lap, bay

Word History and Origins

Origin of gulf¹

C14: from Old French golfe, from Italian golfo, from Greek kolpos

Example Sentences

Despite the gulf in World Cup prestige between both sides, the result does follow form and world seedings with Canada ranked one place above the Black Ferns.

From BBC

The gulf is better described by their fans' ironic cheers when a wicket finally fell, or by the fact those in attendance left before the floodlights had taken hold.

From BBC

One prompt that showed a large gulf between the parties was on taxpayer funding for UC.

From Los Angeles Times

Davis' title will not be on the line because of the huge gulf in weight between the two men.

From BBC

But the gulf between Russia and Ukraine remains.

From BBC