sluice

The definition of a sluice is a gate or channel that controls the flow of water.

(noun)

An example of a sluice is a gate that holds water back in a flood.

See sluice in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

an artificial channel or passage for water, having a gate or valve at its head to regulate the flow, as in a canal or millstream
the water held back by or passing through such a gate
a gate or valve used in opening or closing a sluice; floodgate
also sluice gate
any channel, esp. one for excess water
☆ a sloping trough or flume through which water is run, as in washing gold ore, carrying logs, etc.

Origin: ME scluse < OFr escluse & LL exclusa < fem. pp. of L excludere, to shut out, exclude

transitive verb sluiced, sluicing

to draw off by or as by means of a sluice
1. to wash with water flowing in or from a sluice
2. to wash off with a rush of water: to sluice a deck with hoses
☆ to carry (logs, etc.) in a sluice

intransitive verb

to run or flow in or as in a sluice

See sluice in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

a. An artificial channel for conducting water, with a valve or gate to regulate the flow: sluices connecting a reservoir with irrigated fields.
b. A valve or gate used in such a channel; a floodgate: open sluices to flood a dry dock. Also called sluice gate.
A body of water impounded behind a floodgate.
A sluiceway.
A long inclined trough, as for carrying logs or separating gold ore.