chute

1 of 2

noun

ˈshüt 

variants or less commonly shute

1

a

: fall sense 6b

b

: a quick descent (as in a river) : rapid

2

: an inclined plane, sloping channel, or passage down or through which things may pass : slide

3

: parachute

4

: spinnaker

chute

2 of 2

verb

chuted; chuting

transitive verb

: to convey by a chute

intransitive verb

1

: to go in or as if in a chute

2

: to utilize a chute (as by passing ore down it)

Examples of chute in a Sentence

Noun

She dropped the towels into the laundry chute.

children sliding down a water chute

The skiers came racing down the chute.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Rodriguez had more than 600 jumps but apparently failed to pull either his main or reserve parachutes, according to The Record. April 7, 1993 Deven Whittaker, 15, died after his main parachute deployed improperly and became entangled with a backup chute, according to an FAA incident report. —Stephen Hobbs, Sacramento Bee, 16 Jan. 2025

The new area, known as Hero's, is designed to be climate-proof and offers chutes, expert runs and gladed zones. —John Frank, Axios, 25 Nov. 2024

Verb

Make sure blades have come to a complete stop before crossing over gravel or touching any part of the mower, including attempting to unclog the discharge chute or removing the grass catcher. —Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 5 July 2024

The Salinas Junior Rodeo will feature goat tying, calf riding, chute dogging, calf roping and more — all traumatic for the terrified animals, and dangerous for children and animals alike. —Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 29 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French, from Old French, from cheoir to fall, from Latin cadere — more at chance

First Known Use

Noun

1805, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1884, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing chute

• out of the chute

Kids Definition

chute

noun

variants also shute

ˈshüt

1

: an inclined plane, sloping channel, or passage down or through which things may pass

a coal chute

a mail chute

2

: parachute entry 1 sense 1