effluent

A stream that flows out, such as from a lake or reservoir; an outflow; effluence.

Adjective

  1. Flowing out; outflowing.
    • But while the effluent beams of the sun, and their quickening power in the natural sphere, furnish a good illustration of my idea of the Holy Spirit, I may, perhaps, illustrate the idea still better by a reference to...

Origin

From French effluent, from Latin effluens, effluentis. By surface analysis, e- + fluent.

Derived

noneffluent

Noun

  1. A stream that flows out, such as from a lake or reservoir; an outflow; effluence.
    • The landscape was dotted with reservoirs and many many effluent streams.
  2. Sewage or waste water discharged into a natural body of water.
    • Residents have little control over the industrial effluent that pollutes their rivers.
    • Still remarkably clean, Baikal nevertheless feels the effects of air and water pollution from various sources, including industries around Irkutsk and from the Selenga river, which provides half the water flowing into...
    • One of the hidden glories of Victorian engineering is proper drains. Isolating a city’s effluent and shipping it away in underground sewers has probably saved more lives than any medical procedure except vaccination. -...

    Synonyms: discharge

Forms

effluents