sewer

1 of 3

noun (1)

sew·​er ˈsü-ər How to pronounce sewer (audio)
ˈsu̇r
: a medieval household officer often of high rank in charge of serving the dishes at table and sometimes of seating and tasting

sewer

2 of 3

noun (2)

sew·​er ˈsō-ər How to pronounce sewer (audio)
: one that sews

sewer

3 of 3

noun (3)

sew·​er ˈsü-ər How to pronounce sewer (audio)
ˈsu̇r
: an artificial usually subterranean conduit to carry off sewage and sometimes surface water (as from rainfall)

Examples of sewer in a Sentence

Noun (2) a good sewer who designs her own clothing
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Sixth and Seventh streets are closed at their respective intersections with Poplar Street for water and sewer work, according to the department. Nwa Democrat-Gazette, arkansasonline.com, 9 Dec. 2024 Port Crescent State Park The modern campground at Port Crescent State Park closed for an enhancement project that includes new roads, water and sewer lines, electrical and a sanitation station. Tanya Wildt, Detroit Free Press, 6 Dec. 2024 The sequence was based on a real event from the London Blitz that involved a bomb blowing both a sewer and a water pipe, flooding the Bethnal Green Tube Station where people were sheltering and killing 70. Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 30 Nov. 2024 These buildups of fats, oil, and grease–or FOG–can mix with the calcium and water in sewer systems and form these giant blockages that solidify inside pipes and concrete sewers. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 13 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for sewer 

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French asseour, literally, seater, from Anglo-French asseer to seat — more at assize

Noun (3)

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from assewer, essiver to drain, from Vulgar Latin *exaquare, from Latin ex- + aqua water — more at island

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sewer was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near sewer

Cite this Entry

“Sewer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sewer. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

sewer

1 of 2 noun
sew·​er ˈsō(-ə)r How to pronounce sewer (audio)
: one that sews

sewer

2 of 2 noun
sew·​er ˈsü-ər How to pronounce sewer (audio)
ˈsu̇(-ə)r
: a usually covered drain to carry off water and sewage

More from Merriam-Webster on sewer

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!