Definition of "gutter" in English

noun

1. A prepared channel in a surface, especially at the side of a road adjacent to a curb, intended for the drainage of water.

2. A ditch along the side of a road.

3. A duct or channel beneath the eaves of a building to carry rain water; eavestrough.

   • The gutters must be cleared of leaves a few times a year.

4. (bowling) A groove down the sides of a bowling lane.

   • You can decide to use the bumpers to avoid the ball going down the gutter every time.

5. A large groove (commonly behind animals) in a barn used for the collection and removal of animal excrement.

6. Any narrow channel or groove, such as one formed by erosion in the vent of a gun from repeated firing.

7. (typography) A space between printed columns of text.

8. (printing) One of a number of pieces of wood or metal, grooved in the centre, used to separate the pages of type in a form.

9. (philately) An unprinted space between rows of stamps.

10. (British) A drainage channel.

11. The notional locus of things, acts, or events that are distasteful, ill-bred, or morally questionable.

12. (figuratively) A low, vulgar state.

    • Get your mind out of the gutter.
    • What kind of gutter language is that? I ought to wash your mouth out with soap.

13. (comics) A space between comic strip panels.

verb

1. To flow or stream; to form gutters.

2. (of a candle) To melt away by having the molten wax run down along the side of the candle.

3. (of a small flame, or poetically, of eyes) To flicker as if about to be extinguished.

4. (transitive) To send (a bowling ball) into the gutter, not hitting any pins.

5. (transitive) To supply with a gutter or gutters.

6. (transitive) To cut or form into small longitudinal hollows; to channel.

7. (intransitive, uncommon) To worsen considerably.

   • The students' performance guttered after the school event.
   • The patient's state would soon gutter.

noun

1. One who or that which guts.