gutter
/ˈɡʌtə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɡʌtər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈgə-tər/ (ame, mw) · /ˈɡʌt.ər/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɡʌt̬.ɚ/ (ame, ipa)
gutter — noun
- guttersingular
- guttersplural
1. the long, narrow open channel built along the side of a street that carries rain
the long, narrow open channel built along the side of a street that carries rainwater away to underground drains
After the storm, water rushed along the gutter, carrying leaves and small twigs toward the drain.
collocation: water rushes along the gutter
Mei searched the gutter for the silver earring she had dropped through the metal grate.
City workers clear dead leaves from the gutters every autumn to prevent flooding.
A red toy car floated along the gutter after the rain stopped and the water drained away.
Drivers splashed through deep puddles because the clogged gutter could not drain the rainwater quickly.
文法句型
the gutter
gutter + noun (gutter water, gutter drain)
用法筆記
Often plural (gutters) when referring to the channels on both sides of a street. Frequently paired with verbs like 'clean', 'clear', 'block', or 'overflow'.
常見錯誤
2. a pipe or curved channel fixed under the edge of a roof that collects rainwater
a pipe or curved channel fixed under the edge of a roof that collects rainwater and directs it away from the building's walls
The old house had rusted metal gutters that leaked brown water down the walls each time it rained.
relative clause: gutters that leaked
Kenji hired a worker to fix the loose gutter section that broke away from the roof in the storm.
Heavy rain made the gutter overflow, soaking the flower bed below the window.
Sofia climbed a ladder to inspect the plastic gutter that had cracked under the weight of snow.
The old workshop had no gutters, so rainwater poured directly off the roof onto the workers.
- downspout
specifically the vertical pipe that carries water down from the roof gutter
- eavestrough
Canadian and some American regions — same thing, different term
文法句型
roof gutter
gutter + noun (gutter pipe)
用法筆記
Usually plural (gutters) for the full system around a building. 'Guttering' is the uncountable noun for the rooftop drainage system as a whole.
3. the poorest or most unpleasant part of human society, where people live in bad c
the poorest or most unpleasant part of human society, where people live in bad conditions or behave in morally low ways
The documentary showed how the factory closures dragged families from the middle class into the gutter.
collocation: dragged into the gutter
The once-respected newspaper now prints gossip dragged from the gutter of public taste.
figurative: gutter of public taste
Community leaders organized job-training programmes to lift young people out of the gutter.
The novel tells the story of a talented musician who rose from the gutter to become a famous artist.
- depths
more literary; 'the depths of society' emphasises misery rather than moral judgment
- underclass
neutral sociological term for a group excluded from economic opportunity
- slums
refers to actual physical neighbourhoods with poor housing, not a social condition
- high society
the wealthy, upper-class part of society
文法句型
the gutter
from the gutter
out of the gutter
用法筆記
Almost always metaphorical — the physical roadside gutter is extended to represent the lowest social or moral condition. Common in fixed phrases like 'gutter press' and 'gutter politics'.
常見錯誤
4. a narrow groove or passage built into a surface to guide the flow of a liquid or
a narrow groove or passage built into a surface to guide the flow of a liquid or the movement of small objects in a particular direction
The bowling ball curved to the right and dropped into the wooden gutter beside the lane.
Workers carved a narrow gutter in the concrete floor to direct spilled chemicals toward the drain.
passive: be + carved — purpose clause with 'to direct'
A beginner player watched helplessly as the ball rolled straight into the gutter on every turn.
The marble rolled along a small metal gutter and dropped into the hole with a satisfying clink.
文法句型
a gutter for [object]
gutter + noun
用法筆記
This is a general-purpose term used in specific contexts (bowling, manufacturing, construction). In bowling, 'the gutter' has its own metaphorical use in 'gutter ball' (a ball that falls into the gutter).
gutter — verb
- gutterpresent simple I / you / we / they
- gutters3rd person singular
- guttering-ing form
- gutteredpast simple
1. if a flame or candle gutters, it burns unevenly and weakly because of a lack of
if a flame or candle gutters, it burns unevenly and weakly because of a lack of fuel or a draft of air, often just before going out completely
The candle flame guttered in the sudden draft from the open window before going out.
intransitive: flame + gutter + adverb phrase
As the oil ran low, the lamp began to gutter, casting shaky shadows across the walls.
Thiago watched the campfire gutter and spark as the midnight wind picked up over the hills.
Omar lit the old lamp, but the wick was too short and the flame guttered almost at once.
文法句型
gutter (no object)
gutter + adverb (gutter slowly)
用法筆記
Only used for flames, candles, lamps, fire — not electrical lights or bulbs. Describes the moment before the flame dies, not a steady flicker.
常見錯誤
2. to flow in small, thin streams like water finding its way along narrow channels
to flow in small, thin streams like water finding its way along narrow channels
Melted wax guttered down the side of the birthday candle and hardened on the cake.
gutter + down [direction]
Rainwater guttered along the cracks in the pavement after the sudden afternoon downpour.
Sweat guttered down the runner's forehead as she crossed the finish line in the summer heat.
Melted snow guttered off the greenhouse roof in thin, clear streams on the warm afternoon.
文法句型
gutter + preposition phrase (down/along/across/off)
用法筆記
Literary or descriptive register — more common in written narrative than everyday conversation. Often used with prepositions of direction (down, along, across, off, into).
3. to provide a building or surface with a gutter or cut a channel into something t
to provide a building or surface with a gutter or cut a channel into something to direct the flow of liquid
The team guttered the entire housing complex in two days using lightweight plastic pipes.
transitive active: team + guttered + object
Farmers guttered the sloping field to channel irrigation water evenly to each row of rice.
Before planting the orchard, workers guttered the hillside to prevent soil erosion during heavy rain.
The contractor guttered the warehouse roof with heavy-duty channels to handle the tropical downpours.
- install gutters
the everyday phrasal equivalent
- fit gutters
British English equivalent
- channel
broader meaning: to cut a passage for liquid, not specific to roof drainage
文法句型
gutter + object (a building / a surface)
be guttered with
用法筆記
A technical or trade verb. In practice, people more often say 'install gutters on' or 'fit gutters to' than use 'gutter' as a verb. The passive ('the building is guttered') is more common than the active voice.
常見錯誤
gutter — adjective
- gutterpositive
- gutterercomparative
- gutterestsuperlative
1. relating to or typical of the lowest, most rude, or most unpleasant aspects of s
relating to or typical of the lowest, most rude, or most unpleasant aspects of society — used to describe humour, language, or behaviour that is vulgar or lacks moral standards
The comedian's gutter humour offended many audience members with its rude jokes.
attributive: gutter + humour
Fatima's colleague used gutter language during the client meeting, shocking everyone in the room.
Critics dismissed the film as gutter entertainment designed only to shock audiences.
The diner's gutter comments about the waitress earned him a warning from the restaurant manager.
- refined
showing good taste and education; opposite of 'gutter' in the taste sense
- high-class
belonging to the upper levels of society
文法句型
gutter + noun
用法筆記
Almost always used before a noun in phrases like 'gutter humour', 'gutter language', 'gutter press', 'gutter politics'. It is a derogatory label — use it with awareness of its negative judgment.