culvert

/'kʌlvət/

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Word: Culvert

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: A culvert is a type of drainage structure that allows water to flow under roads, railways, or other obstacles. It is usually a pipe or a tunnel that is completely enclosed and helps to prevent flooding by directing water away.

Usage Instructions:

• Use "culvert" when talking about infrastructure, particularly in construction, engineering, or environmental contexts.
• It is often found in discussions about roads, drainage systems, or flood control.

Example:

• "After the heavy rain, the culvert under the road was filled with water, but it helped prevent the road from flooding."

Advanced Usage:

• In engineering reports, you might encounter phrases like "the design of the culvert needs to accommodate high water flow during storms" or "culverts must be maintained to ensure proper drainage."

Word Variants:

• Culverting (verb): The process of installing or maintaining culverts.
• Culverted (adjective): Describing an area or road that has culverts installed.

Different Meaning:

While "culvert" primarily refers to a drainage structure, in some contexts, it may also refer to any channel or conduit for water, though this usage is less common.

Synonyms:

• Drainage pipe
• Waterway
• Tunnel (in the context of water flow)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

There are no widely recognized idioms or phrasal verbs specifically related to "culvert." However, you may encounter phrases about drainage or flooding in general, such as "run off," which refers to water flowing over the ground after rain.

Summary:

A culvert is a crucial part of infrastructure that helps manage water flow under roads and railways.

Academic

Noun

1. a transverse and totally enclosed drain under a road or railway