What does sluiced mean?
Sluiced describes washing, rinsing, or clearing something with a substantial flow of water. The expression can refer to a deliberate action, as in sluicing a patio with a hose, or to water pouring over a surface with such force that it becomes thoroughly wet. It also has a more figurative use in phrases such as sluicing down, where the image of abundant water suggests a rapid, thorough flow. Although it is used in both British and American English, it has an informal, vivid quality and is especially common in speech and contemporary writing. The word is related to sluice, a channel or gate used to regulate the movement of water, and it is most often associated with rain, overflowing water, or someone washing with a hose or tap.
verbTo wash, rinse, or clear something by pouring or allowing a large amount of water over it. It can also mean to be drenched or washed down by a heavy flow of water.
- To wash, rinse, or remove material from something by pouring or allowing a large amount of water over it.
- To flow or fall heavily, as rain or water.
- To be drenched or washed down by a heavy flow of water.
"She sluiced the dusty patio with the garden hose before the guests arrived."
"The storm sluiced the streets with rainwater."
"He sluiced his boots beneath the tap as soon as he came inside."
Sometimes the quickest way to clean something is simply to let water sluice over it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sluiced come from?
The verb derives from the English noun sluice, which came through Old French from Latin sluicia, a word associated with a channel or watercourse. The Latin term in turn belongs to a family connected with the idea of flowing or letting water pass. In English, the noun developed to mean a gate, channel, or opening for controlling water, while the verb came to describe washing with or being overwhelmed by a flow of water.
Related word forms
How sluiced is actually used
The word is natural and informal in everyday British and American English. It often suggests a quick or forceful flow of water rather than careful washing.
Easily confused with sluiced
A sluice is a gate, channel, or other structure used to control the flow of water, whereas the verb describes washing or flowing with water.