chute

play

noun \ ˈshüt \

variants: or less commonly shute

Definition of chute

1 a :fall 6b

b :a quick descent (as in a river) :rapid

2 :an inclined plane, sloping channel, or passage down or through which things may pass :slide

3 :parachute

4 :spinnaker

See chute defined for English-language learners

See chute defined for kids

Examples of chute in a Sentence

She dropped the towels into the laundry chute.
children sliding down a water chute
The skiers came racing down the chute.

Recent Examples of chute from the Web

The chute catches us with a jerk, rolling and buffeting our capsule crazily through the sky.

— scott kelly, Smithsonian, "Scott Kelly’s Journey Home After His Year in Space," 24 Aug. 2017
To that end, Sarah Huckabee Sanders can report to the nearest trash chute alongside Anthony Scaramucci, her former boss Reince Preibus, and her soon-to-be-old boss Sean Spicer.

— michael arceneaux, Essence.com, "Don't Be Fooled: Donald Trump Meant What He Said When He Encouraged Police Brutality," 4 Aug. 2017
With motor running, drop 4 degermed cloves garlic down the chute, 1 at a time.

— leah eskin, chicagotribune.com, "Corn pudding recipe transfers fresh, crisp kernels into rich, creamy goodness," 18 July 2017
It was not known if the injuries occurred as a result of the man’s fall into the trash chute or if the compactor went into operation and crushed his legs, the story reported.

— mari a. schaefer, Philly.com, "Man breaks legs hiding from police in trash compactor," 17 July 2017
The bull, No. 3130, threw him shortly after exiting the chute.

— marty price, charlotteobserver, "So you think you want to be a bull rider," 26 June 2017
Passengers evacuated the plane via emergency chutes.

— tonya alanez, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Smokey cockpit forces flight to Lauderdale to make emergency landing," 23 June 2017
The chute where feed was funneled from the silo into the barn is still there, though large round rocks have now spilled inside into a pile.

— john carlisle, Detroit Free Press, "Historic barn on Leelanau Peninsula faces demolition," 22 June 2017
The majority of the trail through the Sierra remains covered in deep snow, with steep snow chutes and roiling mountain streams.

— paige st. john, latimes.com, "Skiers hit the slopes in bikini tops as California's endless winter endures a heat wave," 20 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'chute.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of chute

French, from Old French, from cheoir to fall, from Latin cadere — more at chance

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1805

See Words from the same year

Other Geology Terms

anthracite, boulder, cwm, erratic, igneous, intrusive, mesa, sedimentary, silt, swale

chute

verb

Definition of chute

chuted; chuting

transitive verb

:to convey by a chute

intransitive verb

1 :to go in or as if in a chute

2 :to utilize a chute (as by passing ore down it)

First Known Use of chute

1884

CHUTE Defined for English Language Learners

chute

play

noun

Definition of chute for English Language Learners

: a narrow tube or passage that things and people go down or through

CHUTE Defined for Kids

chute

noun \ ˈshüt \

Definition of chute for Students

1 :a tube or passage down or through which people slide or things are slid or dropped

a laundry chute

Children slid down the chute.

2 :¹parachute

Learn More about chute

See words that rhyme with chute Spanish Central: Translation of chute Nglish: Translation of chute for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of chute for Arabic speakers

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Examples of chute in a Sentence

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Origin and Etymology of chute

Other Geology Terms

chute

Definition of chute

First Known Use of chute

CHUTE Defined for English Language Learners

chute

Definition of chute for English Language Learners

CHUTE Defined for Kids

chute

Definition of chute for Students

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