cusec
Very Low / ObscureTechnical / Scientific
Definition
Meaning
A unit of flow rate equal to one cubic foot per second, used primarily in hydrology and irrigation engineering.
A technical measurement of volumetric flow, representing the volume of water passing a given point each second.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is a portmanteau of 'cubic foot per second'. It is a specific, countable unit of measurement with no figurative uses.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Identical in technical usage. Both use the term in hydrology and engineering contexts. No regional spelling variations.
Connotations
Purely technical, devoid of cultural or emotional connotations in any region.
Frequency
Equally rare in both UK and US, confined to professional technical fields. The US may also use 'ft³/s' or 'CFS' more frequently.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The [river] discharged [NUMBER] cusecs.A flow rate of [NUMBER] cusec was recorded.They measured [NUMBER] cusecs.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Extremely rare, only in specialized water resource or infrastructure projects.
Academic
Used in hydrology, civil engineering, and environmental science papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Virtually never used. Unknown to the general public.
Technical
The primary and only register. Used in engineering reports, irrigation design, and river management.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The word 'cusec' is for engineers.
- It is a unit for measuring water.
- The small canal had a flow of only five cusecs.
- They needed to know the river's flow in cusecs.
- The irrigation scheme was designed for a peak capacity of 120 cusecs.
- Hydrologists recorded a discharge of over 300 cusecs during the flood.
- The abstraction licence permitted a maximum draw of 15 cusecs from the tributary.
- Calculating the sediment load required precise cusec measurements over the hydrograph's duration.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'CUBIC foot per SECond' → CU + SEC = CUSEC.
Conceptual Metaphor
None. It is a literal, precise measurement.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'кусок' (kusok, 'piece'). The words are unrelated.
- It is a unit, not a general noun for 'flow'. Equivalent technical terms might be 'кубический фут в секунду'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a plural without 's' (e.g., 'ten cusec'). The standard plural is 'cusecs'.
- Using it outside of a technical water-flow context.
- Pronouncing it with a hard 'c' (/k/). It starts with /kj/ (like 'cue').
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'cusec' primarily used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a highly technical term known almost exclusively to professionals in water resource management, hydrology, and civil engineering.
It is pronounced 'KYOO-sek', with the stress on the first syllable. The 'cu' sounds like the word 'cue'.
The standard plural is 'cusecs', as in 'The flow was measured at 25 cusecs'.
While theoretically possible for any fluid, in practice, its use is almost entirely restricted to measuring water flow in rivers, canals, and irrigation systems.