WordGarden.iogulley
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /ɡˈʌli/
US
- /ˈɡəli/
Meanings
Noun
a narrow channel or ravine cut by running water
Beyond the definition
Gulley is a less common spelling of gully. It usually means a small, narrow channel cut into the ground by running water, often after heavy rain. You might see one on a hillside, on a trail, or across a field where water has washed soil away. In some places, the word is also used for a road drain or grated channel that carries rainwater away. In older or literary use, it can also mean a narrow alley or passage.
Gulley is usually just another spelling of gully, and the main idea is a narrow channel or hollow shaped by flowing water. It often forms on sloping ground where rain gathers, starts to move faster, and cuts into the soil. That is why you may hear about gully erosion in farming or land care: the water does not simply leave a mark on the surface, but cuts a clear path that can deepen over time and damage the land.
The word is not limited to natural ground. In some varieties of English, a gulley can also mean a drain at the side of a road or near a building, often covered by a metal grate, where rainwater runs off into the drainage system. This sense keeps the same basic picture of a narrow place that guides water away.
Historically, and sometimes in literary writing, gulley may also describe a narrow passage or alley between buildings. That use is less common today, but it follows the same image of a long, tight space. Whether it refers to a rain-cut channel in the earth, a street drain, or an old alley, gulley suggests a narrow route that carries water, movement, or both.
Examples
- 1
Weather erosion
After weeks of heavy rain, a deep gulley formed at the edge of the field.
- 2
Beach path
We climbed carefully down the rocky gulley to reach the beach.
- 3
Road damage
Storm water had cut small gulleys across the dirt road.
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- gulley