inlet

IPA/ˈɪnlet/
KK[ˈɪnlˌɛt]IPA/ˈɪnlet/

inlet — noun

  • inletsingular
  • inletsplural

1. A narrow stretch of water that reaches from the ocean or a lake into the surroun

1.名詞B1
釋義

A narrow stretch of water that reaches from the ocean or a lake into the surrounding land, often forming a sheltered place for boats.

例句

Selim sailed his small boat into a quiet inlet to escape the strong afternoon wind.

sail into + inlet (geographical navigation)

The coastal village sits where a narrow inlet opens into the Atlantic Ocean.

同義詞
  • bay

    A bay is wider and more open to the sea than an inlet, which tends to be narrower and more sheltered.

  • cove

    A cove is a small, circular bay with a narrow entrance, often between cliffs; an inlet is usually longer than it is wide.

  • creek

    In British English 'creek' can mean a narrow inlet, but in American English it usually refers to a small stream.

  • fjord

    A fjord is a long, deep, narrow inlet formed by a glacier, with very steep sides.

反義詞
  • headland

    A headland is a piece of land that sticks out into the sea — the opposite of an inlet, which is water extending into land.

  • peninsula

    A peninsula is land surrounded by water on three sides, whereas an inlet is water surrounded by land on three sides.

用法筆記

Commonly appears in coastal place names (e.g., 'Chichester Inlet'). The size of inlets varies widely — some are small tidal creeks while others are large enough for commercial ships.

常見錯誤

❌The river flowed into an inlet.
✅The river flowed into a bay at the coast.
💡An inlet is a coastal indentation filled with seawater; rivers flow into bays or estuaries, not inlets.

2. The opening, pipe, or valve in a device, engine, or container through which a fl

2.名詞B2
釋義

The opening, pipe, or valve in a device, engine, or container through which a fluid, such as water, air, or fuel, is taken in.

例句

The mechanic found a piece of plastic blocking the inlet of the pump.

inspect the inlet of + pump

A dirty air filter can block the engine's air inlet and reduce power on hills.

air inlet (compound noun in automotive context)

同義詞
  • intake

    'Intake' is more common for air or fuel systems (e.g., 'air intake') and emphasises the act of drawing something in.

  • port

    'Port' is a technical term for a specific opening in an engine or valve system where fluids enter or exit.

  • mouth

    Less formal and less precise; 'mouth of a tube' is understandable but not standard in technical writing.

反義詞
  • outlet

    The outlet is the opening through which fluid leaves a system — the direct counterpart of an inlet.

  • exhaust

    In engines, the exhaust removes burned gases, while the inlet brings in fresh air or fuel.

用法筆記

Frequently appears in compound nouns: 'air inlet', 'fuel inlet', 'water inlet', 'gas inlet'. Often contrasted with 'outlet' (where fluid exits). In technical diagrams, the inlet is typically labelled with an arrow pointing into the component.

常見錯誤

❌Water came out of the inlet pipe.
✅Water came through the inlet pipe into the machine.
💡'Inlet' refers to the point where fluid enters, not where it leaves.