gulf
/ɡʌlf/ (bre, ipa) · /ɡʌlf/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈgəlf/ (ame, mw)
gulf — noun
- gulfsingular
- gulfsplural
1. a wide stretch of salt water bounded by a curving coastline on three sides, with
a wide stretch of salt water bounded by a curving coastline on three sides, with an opening that leads out to a larger ocean — for instance, the Gulf of Mexico or the Gulf of Thailand.
Hurricanes that form over the Gulf of Mexico often move toward the coast.
proper noun construction: Gulf of + [place name]
Sahil's family lives near a calm gulf where small fishing boats dock every evening.
countable with modifier: a calm gulf
The ship took three days to cross the Gulf before reaching the port.
Warm waters in the Gulf provide a rich habitat for sea turtles and tropical fish.
Yuna traced the outline of the Gulf on the classroom map with her finger.
文法句型
the Gulf of [place name]
[adjective] gulf
用法筆記
Capitalized when part of a proper name (the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf of Thailand). As a common noun, 'gulf' is larger than a 'bay' but smaller than a 'sea' — though boundaries are not always precisely defined.
常見錯誤
2. the Persian Gulf, its surrounding waters, and the countries along its coast — a
the Persian Gulf, its surrounding waters, and the countries along its coast — a strategically important region often shortened to just 'the Gulf' in business and political reporting.
Oil exports from the Gulf drive the economy of several nearby countries.
the Gulf as short form for the Persian Gulf region
Many workers from South Asia move to Gulf countries for better pay.
Airlines based in the Gulf have expanded their routes across Asia and Africa.
Isabela read a report about rising temperatures in the Gulf during summer.
- the Persian Gulf
the full formal name
- Gulf states
refers specifically to the bordering countries, not the body of water
文法句型
the Gulf
the Gulf states
Gulf [noun]
用法筆記
In news and business contexts, 'the Gulf' almost always refers to the Persian Gulf region, not to a generic gulf. The term 'Gulf states' usually means the six countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain).
常見錯誤
3. a very large and deep opening or crack in the surface of the earth, similar to a
a very large and deep opening or crack in the surface of the earth, similar to a chasm or abyss.
The earthquake opened a wide gulf in the hillside behind the village.
Piotr peered over the edge of the gulf but could not see the bottom.
literary use with 'edge of the gulf'
A narrow path wound around the rim of the gulf before reaching the bridge.
Heavy rain opened a gulf where the old road used to cross the hill.
文法句型
a gulf in [the ground/surface]
[adjective] gulf
用法筆記
This sense is primarily literary or formal. In everyday conversation, 'hole', 'crack', or 'chasm' are more common. 'Gulf' here suggests a hole that is both very wide and very deep, often with dramatic or dangerous connotations.
4. a very large difference or division between two people, groups, or sets of ideas
a very large difference or division between two people, groups, or sets of ideas that makes understanding or agreement difficult — for example, a gulf between rich and poor, or a gulf in political opinion.
A wide gulf separates the rich neighbourhoods from the poorer areas nearby.
collocation: wide gulf
The cultural gulf between older and younger workers became hard to ignore.
Negotiators failed to bridge the gulf between the company and the union.
Dahlia felt a growing gulf between her own values and those of her boss.
New policies aim to narrow the gulf in test scores between city and country schools.
- bridge
something that connects or unites; the act of closing a gulf
文法句型
gulf between [X] and [Y]
wide gulf in [area]
bridge/narrow/widen the gulf
用法筆記
Unlike 'gap' (which can be small or large), 'gulf' always implies a very large, difficult-to-cross division. Frequently used with verbs like 'bridge', 'narrow', 'widen', 'close'.
常見錯誤
gulf — verb
- gulfpresent simple I / you / we / they
- gulfs3rd person singular
- gulfing-ing form
- gulfedpast simple
1. to swallow up or completely overwhelm something, as if a deep hole or chasm were
to swallow up or completely overwhelm something, as if a deep hole or chasm were pulling it down — for example, waters gulphing a ship or darkness gulphing a landscape.
The rising sea threatened to gulf the low-lying farmland near the coast.
transitive verb: gulf + noun phrase (direct object)
In the old legend, a sea monster would gulf any ship that passed by.
Darkness seemed to gulf the valley as the sun fell behind the ridge.
The thick mud seemed to gulf the construction site after the dam broke.
文法句型
gulf + noun phrase
用法筆記
This verb is extremely rare in modern English and is nearly always replaced by 'engulf' (which historically formed from 'en-' + 'gulf'). You may encounter it in older literary texts, but avoid using it in everyday writing or speech.