inlet

Everyday

1. An inlet is a narrow area of sea or lake water that goes into the land, like a small bay. tree →
2. An inlet is an opening through which water, air or fuel goes in to a machine or pipe. tree →

In the lessons

In geography lessons on coasts, an inlet is a coastal feature, like a bay, cove or fjord. In science and technology, an inlet pipe or valve lets something in and an outlet lets it out; this matters in maths problems with filling tanks. Phrases: a narrow inlet, air inlet, water inlet.

Examples

• The boat sailed into a quiet inlet. tree →
• We swam in a sheltered inlet where the water was calm. tree →
• Seals rested on the rocks at the end of the inlet. tree →
• Water flows in through the inlet pipe and out through the outlet. tree →
• Do not block the air inlet on the heater. tree →
• A fjord is a long, deep inlet between mountains. tree →

Note

Countable: inlets («an» before the vowel). Opposite of an inlet pipe: outlet. In tank problems, the inlet adds water and the outlet takes it away: rate of filling = inlet rate minus outlet rate.