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Gutter vs Culvert - What's the difference?

gutter | culvert |

As nouns the difference between gutter and culvert

is that gutter is a prepared channel in a surface, especially at the side of a road adjacent to a curb, intended for the drainage of water while culvert is a transverse channel under a road or railway for the draining of water.

As verbs the difference between gutter and culvert

is that gutter is to flow or stream; to form gutters while culvert is to channel (a stream of water) through a culvert.

gutter

English

(Street gutter)

Etymology 1

(etyl) gotere, from (etyl) goutiere (French

Noun

(en noun)
  • A prepared channel in a surface, especially at the side of a road adjacent to a curb, intended for the drainage of water.
  • *
  • A ditch along the side of a road.
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • *
  • A duct or channel beneath the eaves of a building to carry rain water; eavestrough.
    • The gutters must be cleared of leaves a few times a year.
  • A groove down the sides of a bowling lane.
  • A large groove (commonly behind animals) in a barn used for the collection and removal of animal excrement.
  • Any narrow channel or groove, such as one formed by erosion in the vent of a gun from repeated firing.
  • A space between printed columns of text.
  • (philately) An unprinted space between rows of stamps.
  • (British) A drainage channel.
  • The notional locus of things, acts, or events which are distasteful, ill bred or morally questionable.
  • (figuratively) A low, vulgar state.
    • Get your mind out of the gutter .
    What kind of gutter language is that? I ought to wash your mouth out with soap.
    Derived terms
    * gutter ball, gutterball * gutter member * guttermouth * gutter plane * guttersnipe * gutter stick
    See also
    (pedia) * gout

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To flow or stream; to form gutters.
  • (of a candle) To melt away by having the molten wax run down along the side of the candle.
  • (of a small flame) To flicker as if about to be extinguished.
  • To send (a bowling ball) into the gutter, not hitting any pins.
  • To supply with a gutter or gutters.
    • (Dryden)
  • To cut or form into small longitudinal hollows; to channel.
    • (Shakespeare)

    Etymology 2

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • One who or that which guts.
  • * 1921 , Bernie Babcock, The Coming of the King (page 151)
    • A Galilean Rabbi? When did this Province of diggers in dirt and gutters of fish send forth Rabbis? Thou makest a jest.
  • * 2013 , Don Keith, ?Shelley Stewart, Mattie C.'s Boy: The Shelley Stewart Story (page 34)
    • An old, rusty coat hanger made a rudimentary fish-gutter .
    ----

    culvert

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A transverse channel under a road or railway for the draining of water.
  • * 1922, , Vintage Classics, paperback edition, page 91
    • A raft of twigs stayed upon a stone, suddenly detached itself, and floated towards the culvert .
  • * 1996 , , Virago Press, paperback edition, page 167
    • After she left, I ran away for a day, and hid myself, solitary, in a culvert under the railway lines.

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To channel (a stream of water) through a .