as in pipe
a long hollow cylinder for carrying a substance (as a liquid or gas)
a penstock carried water for the waterwheel
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of penstock
Species stocked in Lake Powell for sporting purposes swam the reservoir for decades without creating a clear threat to the river below until the warm surface water sank nearer the hydropower intakes, called penstocks.
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Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 15 Dec. 2025
Provide point protection for Balch Camp PG&E hydro-electric and residential facilities, two powerhouses, Balch communication reflector, penstock and valve houses, and associated power distribution lines.
—Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 10 Sep. 2025
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
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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One of these conditions involves any severe corrosion, dents, or cracks in the pipes.—
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On Friday, Carpenter walked into Jackson’s building and entered his apartment, apparently high on meth and carrying a meth pipe, sources said.—
Noun
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Angelic children are conduits between life and death.—
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That may not be considered overly important, but the media remain the best conduit between the England team and its supporters, even in the social media age.—
Noun
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The signature cocktail, When Pigs Fly, goes through a journey in a pneumatic tube.—
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Tweens will love the small tube size, which fits perfectly in a jean pocket or a shoulder bag.—
Noun
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Exact numbers for your cable channel can vary depending on the TV provider.—
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Watch the 49ers-Jags game is streamable with DirecTV, which carries FOX, along with more than 90 other channels — such as ESPN, ABC, Fox, NBC, NFL Network, AMC, Bravo, CNBC, Disney Channel and others.—
Cite this Entry
“Penstock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penstock. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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