Ducts: meaning, definitions and examples

As mentioned previously, 'ducts' are commonly used in HVAC systems and biological contexts.

• The ducts need to be cleaned to improve air quality.
• The bile ducts carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder.

Generally used to describe tubular structures for transporting fluids like water, gas, or oil. Frequently used in plumbing and industrial contexts.

• The pipes in the kitchen are leaking.
• The oil pipes run for miles under the sea.

Used in a broader sense to describe pathways for various mediums, including water, communication signals, and even efforts or processes. More abstract than 'ducts' or 'pipes'.

• The TV channels offer various shows.
• The water channels in Venice are famous.
• The company has opened new channels for customer feedback.

Specifically used to describe vertical or horizontal openings in buildings designed to allow airflow. Often found in larger structures like high-rises or industrial buildings.

• The building’s ventilation shafts were inspected for safety.
• Smoke was detected in one of the ventilation shafts.

A more general term that can describe any passageway or corridor, whether in a building, biological system, or other contexts.

• The air passage through the nose and mouth leads to the lungs

Commonly used in everyday language to describe a hollow cylindrical object; also used in a medical context for devices inserted into the body.

• The patient was placed on a breathing tube during surgery

Typically used in geography to describe man-made waterways used for transportation or irrigation, or in anatomy for specific body canals.

• The Panama Canal connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans