chute

1 of 2

noun

ˈshüt How to pronounce chute (audio)
variants or less commonly shute
Synonyms of chutenext
1
a
: fall sense 6b
b
: a quick descent (as in a river) : rapid
2
: an inclined plane, sloping channel, or passage down or through which things may pass : slide
3
: parachute
4
: spinnaker

chute

2 of 2

verb

chuted; chuting

transitive verb

: to convey by a chute

intransitive verb

1
: to go in or as if in a chute
2
: to utilize a chute (as by passing ore down it)

Examples of chute in a Sentence

Noun She dropped the towels into the laundry chute. children sliding down a water chute The skiers came racing down the chute.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Fritz revved the engine, a desperate, needling whine, and the vessel lurched down the airstrip, the chute billowing awake behind him. — Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025 Inspectors found black residue behind the ice chute of an ice machine. — Camila Pedrosa, Sacramento Bee, 7 Feb. 2025
Verb
An ice maker had black mold-like growth in its wall and chute. — Camila Pedrosa, Sacramento Bee, 28 Feb. 2025 Mickeys being dragged to the incinerator chute and melted down for regeneration. — Peter Debruge, Variety, 15 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for chute

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French, from Old French, from cheoir to fall, from Latin cadere — more at chance

First Known Use

Noun

1805, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1884, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of chute was in 1805

Phrases Containing chute

Rhymes for chute

See All Rhymes for chute

Browse Nearby Words

chute
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Cite this Entry

“Chute.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chute. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

chute

noun
variants also shute
ˈshüt
1
: an inclined plane, sloping channel, or passage down or through which things may pass
a coal chute
a mail chute
2
: parachute entry 1 sense 1

More from Merriam-Webster on chute

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for chute

Nglish: Translation of chute for Spanish Speakers

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