inlet

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "inlet" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It can be used as a noun meaning an opening into a body of water, or an opening leading to a confined space, or a stream running into a larger body of water. Example sentence: The inlet led to a hidden cove where we could spend the day fishing.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

But his favorite spot to photograph is "definitely at the beach, and a few spots around my town's local inlet", he says.

The Guardian

They have been catching and tagging dogfish in Lough Hyne, an inlet in County Cork, Ireland, where they abound.The tags (which emit an inaudible sound) showed that female dogfish but never males hide in groups in small underwater caves during the daytime.

The Economist

For higher performance, an intercooler is sometimes placed between the compressor and the engine's inlet manifold.

The Economist

To prevent that a "blow-off" valve, which dumps surplus compressed air into the atmosphere, is fitted between the turbocharger and the inlet manifold.On the exhaust side, a "wastegate" regulates the turbocharger's output by bleeding off some of the hot exhaust gas so that it bypasses the turbine.

The Economist

Greater flexibility has come with fuel injectors, which can metre fuel more precisely than carburettors, and variable-valve control, which can optimise the opening and closing of inlet and exhaust valves to produce more power when accelerating or greater economy when dawdling around town.

The Economist

One of the first water-management tasks for an organisation such as this is to map the locality and define its hydrological units, each of which is an area drained by a single stream with one inlet and one outlet.

The Economist

There are the studded winter tires to put on, the engine-block heater to plug in, and the emergency supplies sleeping bag, water, food, matches to pack before a trip up the highway, where drivers can find themselves dozens of miles from the next gas station or house.Homer sits on Kachemak Bay, a 60 kilometer-long inlet of the Pacific.

The Economist

One type, called a ramjet, slows incoming air to subsonic speeds using a carefully shaped inlet to compress and thereby slow the airstream.

The Economist

A rig pounds an inlet out of the coast, sending rubble rattling down a pipe to the sea.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Typical turbine-inlet temperatures for large units range from about 980° to 1,260° C with turbine blade cooling used at the higher temperatures.

Encyclopedia Britannica

To be successful, a steady-flow engine based on the ideas first proposed by Stolze depends not only on high efficiencies (more than 80 percent) for both the rotating compressor and the turbine but also on moderately high turbine-inlet temperatures.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing geographical features, use "inlet" to specifically refer to a narrow body of water leading inland from a larger body of water. This term is especially useful when precision is required.

Common error

Avoid using "inlet" interchangeably with broader terms like "bay" or "gulf". "Inlet" implies a narrower, more confined passage of water compared to the wider expanses of a bay or gulf.

Linguistic Context

The word "inlet" primarily functions as a noun, referring to a body of water extending into a coast or an opening into a cavity. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English, further supporting its role in descriptive language.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Encyclopedias

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "inlet" is a grammatically sound and frequently used noun, primarily employed to describe a narrow body of water extending inland or an opening into a cavity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a usable word in written English, finding common ground in geographical and mechanical descriptions. Its neutrality allows it to seamlessly fit into various registers, from formal scientific papers to casual news articles. The frequency analysis shows its prominence in News & Media and Encyclopedias, highlighting its descriptive function. When using "inlet", ensure it accurately represents a confined water passage rather than broader terms like "bay" or "gulf".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

bay

Refers to a broad indentation of the shoreline, similar to an inlet but often larger.

cove

Describes a small, sheltered bay or recess in a coastline, often smaller and more secluded than an inlet.

fjord

A long, narrow, deep inlet of the sea between high cliffs, typically formed by submergence of a glaciated valley.

estuary

The tidal mouth of a large river, where the tide meets the stream; similar to an inlet where fresh and salt water mix.

narrow channel

Describes a constricted waterway, sharing the characteristic of being a passage of water.

coastal indentation

A general term for a recess in the coastline, encompassing inlets and similar features.

sea arm

An extension of the sea into the land, much like an inlet.

recess in the coast

Highlights the aspect of being a cavity or indentation along the coastline.

water passage

Focuses on the function of an inlet as a pathway for water.

tidal creek

A small stream influenced by tides, often feeding into an inlet.

FAQs

How is "inlet" different from a bay?

An "inlet" is generally a narrower, more confined body of water that leads inland from a larger body of water. A "bay" is typically a broader, more open indentation in the coastline.

What is another word for a small "inlet"?

A smaller version of an "inlet" could be described as a "cove", which suggests a small, sheltered recess in the coastline.

In what contexts is the term "inlet" commonly used?

The term "inlet" is frequently used in geographical descriptions, environmental studies, and engineering contexts related to coastal regions and waterways.

Can "inlet" refer to something other than a body of water?

Yes, "inlet" can also refer to an opening or passage leading into a cavity or a mechanical component, like an engine's "inlet" manifold. However, it is most commonly used to describe a coastal feature.