sump

Plural: sumps

Noun

• A pit or hollow serving as a drain for liquids.
• an oil reservoir in an internal combustion engine
• a well or other hole in which water has collected
• a covered cistern; waste water and sewage flow into it
• A hollow or pit into which liquid drains, such as a cesspool, cesspit or sink.
• The lowest part of a mineshaft into which water drains.
• A completely flooded cave passage, sometimes passable by diving.
• The crankcase or oil reservoir of an internal combustion engine.
• The pit at the lowest point in a circulating or drainage system (FM 55-501).
• An intentional depression around a drain or scupper that promotes drainage.

Verb

• Of a cave passage, to end in a sump, or to fill completely with water on occasion.

Examples

• His strategy was to use the ’Q’ in a sump, but it just flooded his score.
• This low passage sumps quickly after moderate rainfall.
• We discovered a new passage, but it sumped after 100 metres.

Synonyms

cesspit, cesspool, sink