as in pipe
a long hollow cylinder for carrying a substance (as a liquid or gas)
a penstock carried water for the waterwheel
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of penstock
That plate sealed the opening of the penstock (water delivery tube) and holds back water from the reservoir.
—
Logan Smith,
CBS News,
22 Feb. 2026
According to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the water agency, the failure involved a 15-foot-diameter section of penstock pipe between a butterfly valve and a concrete thrust block before the pipe extended down a steep hillside to the powerhouse.
—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
20 Feb. 2026
Water floods down each penstock at 100 cubic metres per second.
—
Chris Baraniuk,
Wired News,
18 Dec. 2025
Species stocked in Lake Powell for sporting purposes swam the reservoir for decades without creating a clear threat to the river below until the warm surface water sank nearer the hydropower intakes, called penstocks.
—
Brandon Loomis,
AZCentral.com,
15 Dec. 2025
Brenda Burman, general manager of the Central Arizona Project, presented a diagram showing the dam’s eight large tubes, called penstocks, that water normally passes through, as well as the smaller outlet pipes that enable water releases at low reservoir levels.
—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Apr. 2024
Logan Smith,
CBS News,
22 Feb. 2026
According to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the water agency, the failure involved a 15-foot-diameter section of penstock pipe between a butterfly valve and a concrete thrust block before the pipe extended down a steep hillside to the powerhouse.
—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
20 Feb. 2026
Water floods down each penstock at 100 cubic metres per second.
—
Chris Baraniuk,
Wired News,
18 Dec. 2025
Species stocked in Lake Powell for sporting purposes swam the reservoir for decades without creating a clear threat to the river below until the warm surface water sank nearer the hydropower intakes, called penstocks.
—
Brandon Loomis,
AZCentral.com,
15 Dec. 2025
Brenda Burman, general manager of the Central Arizona Project, presented a diagram showing the dam’s eight large tubes, called penstocks, that water normally passes through, as well as the smaller outlet pipes that enable water releases at low reservoir levels.
—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Apr. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penstock
Noun
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The freshwater mollusk, first spotted in North America in the Delta in 2024, threatens water systems by clogging pipes and altering the food web.
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Spoon or pipe yolk mixture evenly into reserved egg white halves.
Noun
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Since 2018, that agency has been a primary conduit for election security briefings and cyber assistance.
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Free expression of thought is the conduit by which all American citizens are able to discuss the quality of candidates running for offices at all levels of government, as well as societal events shaping our future.
Noun
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Lying in a hospital bed, the breathing tube attached to her neck sometimes came loose, triggering an alarm.
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It’s designed to support up to two AMS 2 Pro units simultaneously, expanding the printer’s available material pool without constantly rerouting Bowden tubes by hand.
Noun
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The white floral print channels the actress’s effortless aesthetic, and the easy-to-style design can be paired with tank tops, T-shirts, or even worn as a strapless swimsuit cover-up for beach days and vacations.
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How to watch America's Block Party from home Each block party event may host livestreams on their sites and social media channels.
Cite this Entry
“Penstock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penstock. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
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