duct
n. · v.-
1 ventilation or cables (n.) B2 Upper Intermediatea pipe or tube used to move air, liquid, or wires through a building or machine.
a pipe, tube, or channel which conveys a substance or encloses electrical cables.
ExampleThe engineers had to crawl through the air duct to fix the ventilation system.
ExampleThe architectural plans clearly indicate the placement of the heating ducts within the floor joists to maximise energy efficiency.
UsageOften used in compound nouns like 'air duct' or 'cable duct'.
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2 anatomy or botany (n.) C1 Advanced Technical Medicinea small tube in a person, animal, or plant that carries a liquid like tears or sap.
a bodily passage or vessel, especially one that conveys a secretion such as bile, tears, or lymph.
ExampleWhen you cry, tears flow from a small duct in the corner of your eye.
ExampleA blockage in the bile duct can lead to significant digestive complications and requires immediate medical intervention.
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3 physics/waves (n.) C2 Proficiency Technical Sciencea layer in the air or sea that traps and carries radio or sound waves.
a layer in the atmosphere or ocean that, under specific conditions, confines and propagates radio or sound waves along a restricted path.
ExampleThe radio signal travelled much further than usual because of an atmospheric duct.
ExampleTropospheric ducting can occasionally allow VHF signals to be received hundreds of miles beyond their normal line-of-sight range.
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4 to channel through pipes (v.) C1 Advanced Technicalto send air or gas through a system of pipes.
to channel or propagate a substance or wave through a duct or series of ducts.
ExampleThe exhaust gases are ducted away from the engine to keep the cabin cool.
ExampleThe design requires the heated air to be ducted directly into the primary combustion chamber to improve thermal efficiency.
UsageUsually used in the passive voice.
Borrowed from Latin ductus (“leading, conducting”, noun), from dūcō (“to lead, conduct, draw”) + -tus (action noun suffix). Doublet of ductus and douit. Also via Medieval Latin ductus (“a conveyance of water; a channel”), which itself has the first mentioned etymology.