# duct

/ˈdəkt/ (US) · /dˈʌkt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/duct
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. ventilation or cables

noun · CEFR B2

a pipe or tube used to move air, liquid, or wires through a building or machine.

For teachers: a pipe, tube, or channel which conveys a substance or encloses electrical cables.

- The engineers had to crawl through the air duct to fix the ventilation system.
- The architectural plans clearly indicate the placement of the heating ducts within the floor joists to maximise energy efficiency.

Usage: Often used in compound nouns like 'air duct' or 'cable duct'.

### 2. anatomy or botany

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a small tube in a person, animal, or plant that carries a liquid like tears or sap.

For teachers: a bodily passage or vessel, especially one that conveys a secretion such as bile, tears, or lymph.

- When you cry, tears flow from a small duct in the corner of your eye.
- A blockage in the bile duct can lead to significant digestive complications and requires immediate medical intervention.

### 3. physics/waves

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a layer in the air or sea that traps and carries radio or sound waves.

For teachers: a layer in the atmosphere or ocean that, under specific conditions, confines and propagates radio or sound waves along a restricted path.

- The radio signal travelled much further than usual because of an atmospheric duct.
- Tropospheric ducting can occasionally allow VHF signals to be received hundreds of miles beyond their normal line-of-sight range.

### 4. to channel through pipes

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to send air or gas through a system of pipes.

For teachers: to channel or propagate a substance or wave through a duct or series of ducts.

- The exhaust gases are ducted away from the engine to keep the cabin cool.
- The design requires the heated air to be ducted directly into the primary combustion chamber to improve thermal efficiency.

Usage: Usually used in the passive voice.

## Examples

- The air duct needs cleaning to improve the ventilation.
- Engineers installed a new ventilation duct to ensure fresh air reaches the basement offices.
- The architectural design leaves the metal air ducts exposed, creating an industrial aesthetic while allowing for easier maintenance of the building's climate control system.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.