flume

noun

ˈflüm 

1

: an inclined channel for conveying water (as for power)

2

: a ravine or gorge with a stream running through it

Synonyms

• canyon
• cañon
• col
• couloir
• defile
• gap
• gill [British]
• gorge
• gulch
• gulf
• kloof [South African]
• linn [chiefly Scottish]
• notch
• pass
• ravine
• saddle

Examples of flume in a Sentence

hiked through the flume and into the meadow beyond it

built a flume next to the road for runoff

Recent Examples on the Web

From there, researchers then fed three types of water through the flume to mimic the ocean’s constant movement. —Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 20 Mar. 2025

Sitting on the top of a ridge, the residence looks down upon Chili Bar, one of California’s most popular whitewater stretches, and the old historic flume in the distance. —David Caraccio, Sacramento Bee, 15 Mar. 2025

But for those interested in gentler excitement, Silverwood has several classic amusement park attractions, including a Ferris wheel, carousel, log flume, and drop tower. —Carly Caramanna, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2025

Address: 175 Gists Creek Road, Sevierville Wave Country Nashville’s Wave Country is an outdoor water park with three water flumes, two speed slides, and a kiddie pool with water-dropping features and a playground. —Devarrick Turner, USA TODAY, 17 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

probably from Middle English flum river, from Anglo-French, from Latin flumen, from fluere — more at fluid

First Known Use

1748, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for flume

• blume
• boom
• broom
• doom
• fume
• gloom
• glume
• groom
• loom
• plume
• rheum
• room

Kids Definition

flume

noun

ˈflüm 

1

: a sloping channel for carrying water (as for power)

2

: a ravine or gorge with a stream running through it