Definition of GULF

gulf

Plural: gulfs

Noun

  • an arm of a sea or ocean partly enclosed by land; larger than a bay
  • an unbridgeable disparity (as from a failure of understanding)
    • "he felt a gulf between himself and his former friends"
  • a deep wide chasm
  • A hollow place in the earth; an abyss; a deep chasm or basin.
  • That which swallows; the gullet.
  • That which swallows irretrievably; a whirlpool; a sucking eddy.
  • A portion of an ocean or sea extending into the land; a partially landlocked sea
  • A large deposit of ore in a lode.
  • A wide interval or gap; a separating space.
  • A difference, especially a large difference, between groups.
  • The bottom part of a list of those awarded a degree, for those who have only just passed.

Verb

Verb Forms: gulfed, gulfing, gulfs

  • To swallow up or engulf completely.
  • To engulf.
  • To award a degree to somebody who has only just passed sufficiently.

Examples

  • His opponent’s strong play seemed to GULF his hopes of winning the game.
  • the Gulf of Mexico
  • the Persian Gulf

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English gulf, goulf, golf, from Old French golf, from Italian golfo, from Late Latin colfos, from Ancient Greek κόλπος (kólpos, “bosom, gulf”), of obscure origin, but possibly from Proto-Indo-European *kʷelp- (“to curve, arch”).

Scrabble Score: 8

gulf: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
gulf: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
gulf: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 11

gulf: valid Words With Friends Word