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Gulf vs Estuary - What's the difference?

gulf | estuary | Related terms |

As nouns the difference between gulf and estuary

is that gulf is a hollow place in the earth; an abyss; a deep chasm or basin while estuary is coastal water body where ocean tides and river water merge.

gulf

English

(wikipedia gulf)

Alternative forms

* gulph (obsolete)

Noun

(en noun)
  • A hollow place in the earth; an abyss; a deep chasm or basin.
  • * Milton
  • He then surveyed / Hell and the gulf between.
  • * Bible, Luke xvi. 26
  • Between us and you there is a great gulf fixed.
  • (obsolete) That which swallows; the gullet.
  • * 1606 , , IV. i. 23:
  • Witch's mummy, maw and gulf / Of the ravined salt sea shark,
  • That which swallows irretrievably; a whirlpool; a sucking eddy.
  • * Tennyson
  • a gulf of ruin, swallowing gold
  • (geography) A portion of an ocean or sea extending into the land; a partially landlocked sea; as, the Gulf of Mexico or Persian Gulf.
  • (mining) A large deposit of ore in a lode.
  • A difference, especially a large difference, between groups
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2012 , date=September 7 , author=Phil McNulty , title=Moldova 0-5 England , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=England were graphically illustrating the huge gulf in class between the sides and it was no surprise when Lampard added the second just before the half hour. Steven Gerrard found his Liverpool team-mate Glen Johnson and Lampard arrived in the area with perfect timing to glide a header beyond Namasco.}}

    Derived terms

    * engulf * Gulf Coast * Gulf Stream * Gulf War * gulfweed * gulfy

    estuary

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (archaic)

    Noun

    (estuaries)
  • Coastal water body where ocean tides and river water merge.
  • An ocean inlet also fed by fresh river water.
  • Derived terms

    * Estuary English