gutter

/ˈgʌdər/

/ˈgʌtə/

Other forms: gutters; guttering; guttered

A gutter is a pipe or trough along the edge of a roof that carries rainwater away from a building. Another kind of gutter is the indentation beside a street curb. Water flows through these gutters too, usually into a storm drain.

The purpose of the gutters on a roof is to prevent water damage to a structure or flooding around its foundation. A gutter directs the flow of rainwater away from the house, often into a drain or rain barrel. There are other kinds of gutters, too, like the gutters that drain water on the edge of a street and the gutters on the sides of a bowling lane. As a verb, gutter means "to flicker or burn unsteadily," like a candle in the wind.

Definitions of gutter

1. noun

   a channel along the eaves or on the roof; collects and carries away rainwater
   synonyms: trough

   types:

   chute, slide, slideway, sloping trough

   sloping channel through which things can descend

   cullis

   a gutter in a roof

   coal chute

   a chute for coal

   runway

   a chute down which logs can slide

   water chute

   chute with flowing water down which toboggans and inner tubes and people slide into a pool

   type of:

   channel

   a passage for water (or other fluids) to flow through
2. noun

   a channel at the edge of a street for carrying off surface water
3. noun

   a channel or trough for catching and carrying something off, as on each side of a bowling lane
4. noun

   a worker who guts things (fish or buildings or cars etc.)
   type of:

   worker

   a person who works at a specific occupation
5. noun

   a tool for gutting fish
   type of:

   hand tool

   a tool used with workers' hands
6. noun

   a state of misfortune resulting in lost effort or money
   “his career was in the gutter”

   synonyms: sewer, toilet

   type of:

   bad luck, ill luck, misfortune, tough luck

   an unfortunate state resulting from unfavorable outcomes
7. verb

   wear or cut gutters into
   “The heavy rain guttered the soil”

   type of:

   dig into, poke into, probe

   examine physically with or as if with a probe
8. verb

   provide with gutters
   “gutter the buildings”

   type of:

   cater, ply, provide, supply

   give what is desired or needed, especially support, food or sustenance
9. verb

   flow in small streams
   “Tears guttered down her face”

   type of:

   course, feed, flow, run

   move along, of liquids
10. noun

    a space between framed panels in a graphic novel
11. verb

    burn unsteadily, feebly, or low; flicker
    type of:

    burn, glow

    shine intensely, as if with heat