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flume - 4 dictionary results

flume

[floom] noun, verb, flumed, flum⋅ing.
–noun
1. a deep narrow defile containing a mountain stream or torrent.
2. an artificial channel or trough for conducting water, as one used to transport logs or provide water power.
3. an amusement park ride in which passengers are carried in a boatlike or loglike conveyance through a narrow, water-filled chute or over a water slide.
–verb (used with object)
4. to transport in a flume.
5. to divert (a stream) by a flume.

Origin:
1125–75; ME flum < OF ≪ L flūmen stream
flume   (flōōm)   
n.  
  1. A narrow gorge, usually with a stream flowing through it.
  2. An open artificial channel or chute carrying a stream of water, as for furnishing power or conveying logs.
  3. A very small swimming pool designed with a propeller or pump to generate a current, allowing a swimmer to swim in place.

[Middle English flum, river, from Old French, from Latin flūmen, from fluere, to flow; see bhleu- in Indo-European roots.]

Flume

Flume\, n. [Cf. OE. flum river, OF, flum, fr. L. flumen, fr. fluere to flow. [root]84. See Fluent.] A stream; especially, a passage channel, or conduit for the water that drives a mill wheel; or an artifical channel of water for hydraulic or placer mining; also, a chute for conveying logs or lumber down a declivity.

flume 
c.1175, "stream," from O.Fr. flum, from L. flumen "river," from fluere "to flow" (see fluent). In U.S., used especially of artificial streams channeled for some industrial purpose.
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