Definition

Noun: 1. A channel or watercourse that carries water away from a mill, water wheel, or turbine after it has been used to generate power. This is the primary and specific engineering term for the exit channel in a water-powered system.

Usage

The word tailrace is a technical term used in the context of hydraulics, historical watermills, and hydroelectric power generation. It specifically refers to the downstream channel. * The water, having turned the wheel, flows swiftly into the tailrace. * The design of the tailrace is crucial for maintaining efficient water flow through the mill. * Archaeologists studied the old tailrace to understand the mill's operation.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in contrast with headrace, which is the channel that brings water the water wheel.
• In modern hydroelectric dams, the tailrace is the tunnel or channel that returns water to the river downstream of the turbine.

Variants and Related Words

• Headrace (noun): The channel that carries water to a mill wheel or turbine.
• Millrace (noun): The current of water that drives a mill wheel; can refer to the channel overall.
• Slutce (noun): A sliding gate or other control mechanism for regulating water flow, often found at the head of a headrace or within a mill system.

Synonyms

• Outlet channel
• Discharge channel
• Exit channel

Antonyms

• Headrace (the inlet channel)

Noun

1. a watercourse that carries water away from a mill or water wheel or turbine