flume

noun

ˈflüm 

1

: an inclined channel for conveying water (as for power)

2

: a ravine or gorge with a stream running through it

Synonyms of flume

• canyon
• ravine
• gorge

Examples of flume in a Sentence

hiked through the flume and into the meadow beyond it

built a flume next to the road for runoff

Recent Examples on the Web

Health officials have conducted water sampling at several locations around Soquel Creek and Capitola Beach, including a site upstream near Nob Hill, the jetty, Soquel Creek Lagoon and a flume that carries water into Monterey Bay. — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 11 Nov. 2026

They’re stationed behind the facades or tucked on the floor just under the elevated flume. — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 10 Nov. 2026

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure debuted in 2024 — but the mountain that contains the log flume thrill ride has been around for decades longer. — Julie Tremaine, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026

Raft along 670 feet of tunnels and flumes on the Big Daddy Falls, and spin down funnels and fly up walls on the Colossal Curl. — Carly Caramanna, Travel + Leisure, 31 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

probably from Middle English flum river, from Anglo-French, from Latin flumen, from fluere — more at fluid

First Known Use

1748, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for flume

• blume
• boom
• broom
• doom
• fume
• gloom
• glume
• groom
• loom
• plume
• rheum
• room

Kids Definition

flume

noun

ˈflüm 

1

: a sloping channel for carrying water (as for power)

2

: a ravine or gorge with a stream running through it