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

• 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

The wood was sent down the 54-mile Sanger flume to get to a railroad. —Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 20 Sep. 2025

Powerful water jets propel the inner tubes up flumes and around the park giving spectacular views of the ocean. —Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025

While the long-popular attraction retains much of its ride infrastructure, including an elevator lift and flume design that allows for a steep, watery descent, Journey to Atlantis does have new elements, beginning with the queue itself. —Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Aug. 2025

Visitors can enjoy the Splashdown log flume, the Sky Diver and Free Fall drop towers and the Sea Dragon swinging ship. —Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 15 Aug. 2025

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