sluice: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical/Formal/Descriptive
Quick answer
What does “sluice” mean?
A sliding gate or other control mechanism for regulating the flow of water, especially in a channel, dam, or lock.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A sliding gate or other control mechanism for regulating the flow of water, especially in a channel, dam, or lock.
The act of washing or rinsing with a copious flow of water; a channel or conduit carrying away excess water; to flow or pour freely and copiously.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use the term identically for water control structures. 'Sluice gate' is slightly more common in UK technical contexts. In mining contexts, 'sluice box' is more frequent in US/Australian English.
Connotations
UK: Often associated with water management, canals, and flood control. US: Stronger association with gold mining (sluice box) and hydraulic engineering.
Frequency
Low-frequency in general discourse but standard in technical contexts related to water management, mining, and engineering.
Grammar
How to Use “sluice” in a Sentence
sluice something (with something)sluice something out/down/awaysluice through somethingVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sluice” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The lock keeper operated the sluice to control the canal level.
- A wooden sluice diverted water to the mill.
- They found the antique sluice gate in the old watercourse.
American English
- The mining crew set up a sluice box to process sediment.
- Engineers inspected the dam's main sluice for damage.
- The flood was managed by opening the emergency sluices.
verb
British English
- They sluiced the muddy yard down with a hosepipe.
- Water sluiced through the broken dam.
- We need to sluice out the gutters before winter.
American English
- He sluiced off the deck with a power washer.
- Gold miners sluiced the gravel to separate flakes.
- Rain sluiced against the windows during the storm.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphor for uncontrolled outflow of money or resources ('The new tax policy opened the sluice gates for capital flight').
Academic
Technical term in hydrology, civil engineering, and mining geology.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation except for 'sluice down' meaning to wash with a hose.
Technical
Precise term for control structures in dams, canals, sewage systems, and mining equipment.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sluice”
- Confusing 'sluice' with 'sluice gate' (the gate is part of the sluice).
- Using 'sluice' as a general term for any water channel (it implies regulation).
- Misspelling as 'sleuce' or 'sluse'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is commonly used as both. As a noun, it refers to the physical structure. As a verb, it describes the action of washing or flowing vigorously.
A sluice (or sluice gate) controls water flow or level within a channel. A lock is a chamber with gates at both ends used to raise or lower boats between different water levels.
Yes, frequently. It can describe anything that flows copiously and freely (e.g., 'Light sluiced into the room', 'Money was sluiced into the project') or the sudden release of something controlled (e.g., 'opening the sluice gates of emotion').
A long, trough-like box used in placer mining. Water is run through it, and ridges (riffles) on the bottom trap heavier minerals like gold while lighter material is washed away.
A sliding gate or other control mechanism for regulating the flow of water, especially in a channel, dam, or lock.
Sluice is usually technical/formal/descriptive in register.
Sluice: in British English it is pronounced /sluːs/, and in American English it is pronounced /sluːs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “open the sluice gates (to something)”
- “sluice money away”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a LOOSE gate that lets water SLUICE through.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTROL IS A GATE; EMOTIONS/WATER IS A FLUID ('She sluiced away her tears').
Practice
Quiz
In a mining context, a 'sluice' is primarily used to: