sewer

1 of 3

noun (1)

sew·​er ˈsü-ər How to pronounce sewer (audio)
ˈsu̇r
: a medieval household officer often of high rank in charge of serving the dishes at table and sometimes of seating and tasting

sewer

2 of 3

noun (2)

sew·​er ˈsō-ər How to pronounce sewer (audio)
: one that sews

sewer

3 of 3

noun (3)

sew·​er ˈsü-ər How to pronounce sewer (audio)
ˈsu̇r
: an artificial usually subterranean conduit to carry off sewage and sometimes surface water (as from rainfall)

Examples of sewer in a Sentence

Noun (2) a good sewer who designs her own clothing
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District said Wednesday the smell is emanating from the drop shafts that connect the area's sewers to the deep tunnel about 300 feet underground. Drake Bentley, Journal Sentinel, 20 Nov. 2024 Geodesy informs everything from building sewers and making accurate maps of sea level rise to launching and tracking spacecraft. Discover Magazine, 15 Nov. 2024 The grease and fat floated on the water and had to be removed before entering the sewer. Douglas C. Towne, The Arizona Republic, 15 Nov. 2024 The 40-page lawsuit alleges the property owner failed to protect tenants against open sewer conditions, failed to correct code citations imposed by local government agencies and failed to adequately maintain other essential systems throughout the complex. Jordan Smith, The Indianapolis Star, 15 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for sewer 

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French asseour, literally, seater, from Anglo-French asseer to seat — more at assize

Noun (3)

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from assewer, essiver to drain, from Vulgar Latin *exaquare, from Latin ex- + aqua water — more at island

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sewer was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near sewer

Cite this Entry

“Sewer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sewer. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

sewer

1 of 2 noun
sew·​er ˈsō(-ə)r How to pronounce sewer (audio)
: one that sews

sewer

2 of 2 noun
sew·​er ˈsü-ər How to pronounce sewer (audio)
ˈsu̇(-ə)r
: a usually covered drain to carry off water and sewage

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