as in pipe
a long hollow cylinder for carrying a substance (as a liquid or gas)
a penstock carried water for the waterwheel
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Recent Examples of penstock
Brenda Burman, general manager of the Central Arizona Project, presented a diagram showing the dam’s eight large tubes, called penstocks, that water normally passes through, as well as the smaller outlet pipes that enable water releases at low reservoir levels.
—
Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
River water entered the powerhouse and fell down a system of 140-foot vertical pipes, called penstocks, one for each generator.
—Charles R. Morris, WSJ, 21 June 2018
The penstock flows powered the turbines that turned shafts activating the top-side generators.
—Charles R. Morris, WSJ, 21 June 2018
The reservoir can also be lowered by discharges through the dam’s power plant, but one of the two power plant outlets, known as penstocks, was shut down for routine maintenance of turbines.
—Ralph Vartabedian, latimes.com, 10 May 2017
Equipment: An intake gate called a penstock, valves and pressure gauges, turbine, switchgear, inverter, and electronics.
—Popular Mechanics Editors, Popular Mechanics, 6 Feb. 2017
Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
River water entered the powerhouse and fell down a system of 140-foot vertical pipes, called penstocks, one for each generator.
—Charles R. Morris, WSJ, 21 June 2018
The penstock flows powered the turbines that turned shafts activating the top-side generators.
—Charles R. Morris, WSJ, 21 June 2018
The reservoir can also be lowered by discharges through the dam’s power plant, but one of the two power plant outlets, known as penstocks, was shut down for routine maintenance of turbines.
—Ralph Vartabedian, latimes.com, 10 May 2017
Equipment: An intake gate called a penstock, valves and pressure gauges, turbine, switchgear, inverter, and electronics.
—Popular Mechanics Editors, Popular Mechanics, 6 Feb. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penstock
Noun
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The Great Highland pipes endured within the isolation of military culture, and current traditions of advanced-piping competitions haven’t strayed far.—
Elena Saavedra Buckley,
New Yorker,
1 Aug. 2025
-
The final order on copper tariffs, which the Trump administration says will boost the domestic copper production industry, applies to semi-finished products such as pipes, rods, sheets and wires.—
Jenni Reid,
CNBC,
31 July 2025
Noun
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Already a significant conduit in global trade, the Panama Canal plays a major role in facilitating container shipping flow into the U.S.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
28 July 2025
-
Gallardo was a shark on Shark Tank México and is such a part of the fabric in town that Hollywood increasingly sees her as a conduit to the Latino community.—
Mickey Rapkin,
HollywoodReporter,
28 July 2025
Noun
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Manatees call the springs home in the winter, and in the summer these swimming holes are the place to be to cool off and float long days away in a tube.—
Kelsey Glennon,
Southern Living,
29 July 2025
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Lake Toxaway Marine also offers boat rentals, as well as kayaks, canoes, water skis, and tubes.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
28 July 2025
Noun
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WHSmith’s move towards the airport and travel channel has been in the works for some years, but was crystallized in March 2025 when the company announced the sale of its entire U.K. High Street business to Modella Capital.—
Kevin Rozario,
Forbes.com,
31 July 2025
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The video appeared on American Eagle’s Facebook page and other social media channels but is not part of the campaign.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
31 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Penstock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penstock. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.
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