effluent

[ ef-loo-uhnt ]

adjective

1. flowing out or forth.

noun

1. something that flows out or forth; outflow; effluence.
2. a stream flowing out of a lake, reservoir, etc.
3. sewage that has been treated in a septic tank or sewage treatment plant.
4. sewage or other liquid waste that is discharged into a body of water, etc.

effluent

/ ˈɛflʊənt /

noun

1. liquid discharged as waste, as from an industrial plant or sewage works
2. radioactive waste released from a nuclear power station
3. a stream that flows out of another body of water
4. something that flows out or forth

adjective

1. flowing out or forth

effluent

/ ĕf′lo̅o̅-ənt /

Adjective

1. Flowing out or forth.

Noun

1. A stream flowing out of a body of water.
2. An outflow or discharge of liquid waste, as from a sewage system, factory, or nuclear plant.

Other Words From

• super·efflu·ent adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of effluent¹

1720–30; < Latin effluent- (stem of effluēns flowing out, present participle of effluere ), equivalent to ef- ef- + flu- flow + -ent- -ent

Word History and Origins

Origin of effluent¹

C18: from Latin effluere to run forth, from fluere to flow

Example Sentences

Yet overall the media absolutely adores cruise-ship stories, especially if they can be connected to effluent.

From The Daily Beast

No sludge is left, everything being turned into the harmless effluent.

From Project Gutenberg

Namely, it is an attempt to exhibit apparent nature as an effluent from the mind because of causal nature.

From Project Gutenberg

The meeting point of these two natures is the mind, the causal nature being influent and the apparent nature being effluent.

From Project Gutenberg

The effluent is fit for all the varied uses of a dye works, and is stated to be perfectly capable of sustaining fish life.

From Project Gutenberg

The cuttle is the only animal that I know of that would cause this by the effluent current from its "syphon tube."

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• discharge