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spillway

American  
[spil-way] / ˈspɪlˌweɪ /

noun

  1. a passageway through which surplus water escapes from a reservoir, lake, or the like.


spillway British  
/ ˈspɪlˌweɪ /

noun

  1. Also called: wasteweir, spill. a channel that carries away surplus water, as from a dam

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of spillway

First recorded in 1885–90; spill 1 + way 1


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:

To handle the extra volume, engineers send surplus water down 5 Shaft into the deep pool below, much like an overflow spillway helps relieve pressure at a full reservoir.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 6, 2026

The New York Times first wrote about Lake Berryessa’s mesmerizing drain, interviewing Peter Kilkus, who was there hours after the spillway opened.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 10, 2025

Some of what they remove will be used to fill in the dam’s emergency spillway which is carved into the rock beside the river.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 3, 2024

However, opening the spillway also carries pollutants and nutrients into the Mississippi Sound and reduces salinity.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 24, 2024

On this side of the lake there was a concrete wall with a spillway.

From "Bless Me, Ultima" by Rudolfo Anaya

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