inlet

play

noun in·let \ˈin-ˌlet, -lət\

Definition of inlet

1a : a bay or recess in the shore of a sea, lake, or river; also : creekb : a narrow water passage between peninsulas or through a barrier island leading to a bay or lagoon
2 : a way of entering; especially : an opening for intake

See inlet defined for English-language learners

See inlet defined for kids

Examples of inlet in a Sentence

The coast is dotted with tiny inlets.
went fishing in the quiet inlets of the coast

Recent Examples of inlet from the Web

The South Florida Ocean Measurement Facility’s headquarters stands on the south side of the Port Everglades inlet, off a testing range the Navy has operated for more than 50 years.

— david fleshler, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Heightened security for naval exercise off Fort Lauderdale," 19 July 2017
Framing all those air inlets are unique aero bits like twin front dive planes, an extra-long splitter, and a proper pitched aileron at the rear, all of which conspire to generate 300 pounds (136kg) of downforce at 150mph (241km/h).

— jim resnick, Ars Technica, "Camaro goes nuclear: Chevrolet escalates the muscle car war," 18 July 2017
This reduces the inlet temperature under boost and allows for optimum power output, even under extreme conditions.

— terry troy, cleveland.com, "New 911 is fastest, most powerful, street legal model ever," 16 July 2017
There is a lot of water coming in and going out of Boca and best results are coming to trout anglers in float tubes or prams near the inlet.

— sacbee, sacbee.com, "Shad fishing still has promise as salmon season approaches," 3 July 2017
A rainbow has appeared above the mountains and the inlet.

— heather lende, Alaska Dispatch News, "Summer serenade in Haines and a tribute to its grand dame of the arts," 2 July 2017
A 2015 study by Karen Clark & Co., a catastrophe modeling firm, concluded that Tampa, because of its shallow sea bed and numerous inlets, is the third-most vulnerable metro area in the nation to costly flooding from a once-a-century hurricane.

— ron hurtibise, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Lawmaker wants to model flood insurance reform after Citizens takeout program," 30 June 2017
Three years earlier, Jamila Watkins and 15-year-old Shayne Hart were walking along the water’s edge when the sand gave way beneath them, plunging them into the swirling waters of the inlet, killing both of them.

— wayne parry, The Seattle Times, "Judge won’t close beach where 3 died after the sand gave way," 27 June 2017
The backlash was so great that the commissioners relented by opening part of the inlet to dogs.

— jen a. miller, New York Times, "Why Can’t More Dogs Go to the Beach?," 21 June 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of inlet

from its letting water in

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1576

See Words from the same year

Other Geology Terms

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

INLET Defined for English Language Learners

inlet

play

noun

Definition of inlet for English Language Learners

: a narrow area of water that goes into the land from a sea or lake
: an opening through which air, gas, or liquid can enter something (such as a machine)