Word origins - 2ed. J. Ayto. 2005.
Gulf — can refer to: *A gulf, usually referring to a large bay that is an arm of an ocean or sea. For example, the Gulf of Mexico is the ninth largest body of water in the world. * Gulf is also a novella by Robert A. Heinlein. * A company, see Gulf Oil… … Wikipedia
Gulf — (g[u^]lf), n. [F. golfe, It. golfo, fr. Gr. ko lpos bosom, bay, gulf, LGr. ko lfos.] 1. A hollow place in the earth; an abyss; a deep chasm or basin, [1913 Webster] He then surveyed Hell and the gulf between. Milton. [1913 Webster] Between us and … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
gulf — [ gʌlf ] noun count 1. ) a large area of ocean that is almost surrounded by land: the Persian Gulf the warm waters of the Gulf of Thailand 2. ) a large and important difference between people or groups: CHASM: trying to close the widening gulf… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
Gulf — steht für: Gulf Air, Fluggesellschaft Gulf College, College in Oman Gulf County, County in Florida Gulf (North Carolina), Ort in den Vereinigten Staaten Gulf Oil, amerikanischer Ölkonzern Gulf (Papua Neuguinea), Provinz von Papua Neuguinea Siehe… … Deutsch Wikipedia
gulf — W3 [gʌlf] n [Date: 1300 1400; : French; Origin: golfe, from Greek kolpos arms folded around, bay ] 1.) a large area of sea partly enclosed by land ▪ the Gulf of Mexico 2.) the Gulf the Arabian Gulf, or the countries next to it ▪ … Dictionary of contemporary English
gulf — gulf, chasm, abysm, abyss basically denote a hollow place of vast width and depth in the earth. Gulf and chasm suggest a depth which, though vast, is still measurable; abysm and abyss suggest immeasurable depth. Gulf is the most general term and… … New Dictionary of Synonyms
gulf — (n.) late 14c., profound depth; geographic sense is c.1400; from O.Fr. golf a gulf, whirlpool, from It. golfo a gulf, a bay, from L.L. colfos, from Gk. kolpos bay, gulf, earlier trough between waves, fold of a garment, originally bosom, the… … Etymology dictionary
gulf — [gʌlf] noun [countable] 1. a great difference or lack of understanding between two groups of people: gulf between • The South African Government must intervene to reduce the gulf between white wealth and black poverty. 2. a big difference between … Financial and business terms
gulf — [gulf] n. [ME goulf < OFr golfe < It golfo < LGr kolphos, for Gr kolpos, a fold, bosom, gulf, prob. < IE * kwolpos < base * kwel , to turn > Ger wölben, to arch] 1. a large body of sea or ocean water, typically larger than a bay … English World dictionary
gulf — gulf, bay In their meanings to do with the sealine, bay is the ordinary word, whereas gulf is chiefly reserved as a name for a large or notable stretch of sea (as in the Persian Gulf which is also known as the Gulf) and implies a deeper recess… … Modern English usage
gulf — [n1] sea inlet basin, bay, bayou, bight, cove, firth, harbor, slough, sound, whirlpool; concepts 509,514 gulf [n2] deep, gaping hole abyss, breach, cave, cavity, chasm, cleft, crevasse, depth, depths, distance, expanse, gap, gulch, hiatus, hollow … New thesaurus
