downpipe

IPA/ˈdaʊnpaɪp/
IPA/ˈdaʊnpaɪp/

downpipe — noun

  • downpipesingular
  • downpipesplural

1. a long pipe fixed to an outside wall, used to direct rain off the roof into a dr

1.nounB2
Definition

a long pipe fixed to an outside wall, used to direct rain off the roof into a drain below

Example

Rainwater poured from the broken downpipe beside Hugo's kitchen window.

broken downpipe causing visible water overflow

David cleared leaves so the downpipe could carry water to the drain.

carry water to the drain shows the pipe's function

Common collocations
  • blocked downpipe
  • replace a downpipe
  • clear a downpipe
  • downpipe bracket
  • rainwater downpipe
Synonyms
  • downspout

    the usual word in American English

  • drainpipe

    broader and can refer to other pipes, not only roof rainwater

Grammar Patterns

replace a downpipe

clear a downpipe

water runs through the downpipe

Usage Note

Often refers to the vertical rain pipe on the outside of a building. In American English, downspout is the more usual everyday word.

Common Mistakes

The gutter on the wall is broken.
The downpipe on the wall is broken.
A gutter runs along the roof edge, but a downpipe is the vertical pipe that takes the water down.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Downpipe is mainly a British English word for the vertical pipe that carries rainwater away from a roof. In American English, people usually say downspout for the same part. Gutter is different: it is the channel that runs along the roof edge and feeds water into the downpipe. Drainpipe is a broader word and can mean many kinds of water pipes, so it is less exact if you mean this outside part of a building. If someone says the downpipe is blocked, they mean the upright rain pipe, not the roof gutter or a pipe under the sink.

downpipe ↗downspout ↗gutter ↗drainpipe ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • clear a downpipe
  • replace a downpipe
  • blocked downpipe
  • broken downpipe

Prepositions

  • from the downpipe
  • into the downpipe
  • beside the downpipe

Etymology

Old EnglishLatinEnglish

Downpipe is a modern English compound built from down and pipe. The name is literal: it describes the pipe that takes rainwater downward from the roof of a building.

First known use

1849

1849, in the meaning defined above