gulf
[ guhlf ]
/ gʌlf /
noun
a portion of an ocean or sea partly enclosed by land.
a deep hollow; chasm or abyss.
any wide separation, as in position, status, or education.
something that engulfs or swallows up.
verb (used with object)
to swallow up; engulf.
Origin of gulf
1300–50; Middle English
go(u)lf < Old French
golfe < Italian
golfo < Late Greek
kólphos, Greek
kólpos bosom, lap, bay
OTHER WORDS FROM gulf
gulf·like, adjective gulf·y, adjectiveWords nearby gulf
Example sentences from the Web for gulf
British Dictionary definitions for gulf (1 of 2)
gulf
/ (ɡʌlf) /
noun
a large deep bay
a deep chasm
something that divides or separates, such as a lack of understanding
something that engulfs, such as a whirlpool
verb
(tr)
to swallow up; engulf
Derived forms of gulf
gulflike, adjective gulfy, adjectiveWord Origin for gulf
C14: from Old French
golfe, from Italian
golfo, from Greek
kolpos
British Dictionary definitions for gulf (2 of 2)
Gulf
/ (ɡʌlf) /
noun the Gulf
the Persian Gulf
Australian
- the Gulf of Carpentaria
- (modifier) of, relating to, or adjoining the GulfGulf country
NZ
the Hauraki Gulf
Scientific definitions for gulf
gulf
[ gŭlf ]
A large body of ocean or sea water that is partly surrounded by land.