Words / B1

WORT-uh-but/ˈwɔːtə bʌt/

A water butt (id: water-butt) is a garden barrel that collects rain from a drainpipe (UK). A water tank can be indoors or on a roof; a bucket is small and portable. US rain barrel. Collocation: fill / empty the water butt; water the plants from the butt. Countable.

Meaning

A large outdoor barrel that collects rainwater for the garden (UK).

Examples

• “Fill the watering can from the water butt, not the kitchen tap.”
• “Connect the water butt to the drainpipe with a diverter kit.”
• “The water butt froze solid in January, so we used tap water.”

Good to know

a water butt (UK). US: a rain barrel. Contrast: a tank / a bucket. Garden rainwater, not drinking water.

Near in meaning

rain barrel

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