hydrant

Everyday

A pipe in the street, often a short red or yellow post, where firefighters connect hoses to get water to put out fires; a fire hydrant. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life and safety, hydrants are for firefighters; cars must not park in front of them, and children must not open or play with them. In the UK, hydrants are often under small metal covers in the pavement marked with a yellow «H» sign. Phrases: «fire hydrant», «park by a hydrant».

Examples

• The firefighters attached their hose to the hydrant. tree →
• Don't park in front of a fire hydrant. tree →
• In the USA, many hydrants are red posts on the sidewalk. tree →
• A yellow H sign shows where the hydrant is. tree →
• Dogs like to sniff the hydrant. tree →
• Never open a hydrant; firefighters need the water. tree →

Note

Countable: hydrants. «Hydr-» means water (as in hydrate). Opening hydrants wastes water and lowers pressure needed for fires.