conduits

Meanings

1. 1nounpluraltechnical

   Tubes, pipes or channels built to carry water, gas, cables or other material from one place to another.

   Grammar: The singular is conduit: one conduit, two conduits.

   Patterns

   • conduits for something
   • conduits between places

   Electricians ran two plastic conduits along the basement wall to protect the cables.

   Ancient stone conduits once carried fresh water into the city.

   The cold air travels through large metal conduits to every floor.

2. 2nounpluralfigurative

   People, groups or systems through which information, money, influence or goods are passed from one party to another.

   Grammar: Usually followed by for or between: conduits for information.

   Patterns

   • conduits for something
   • conduits between someone and someone

   Local newspapers act as conduits between the council and residents.

   Shell companies were used as conduits for moving the money abroad.

   Teachers can be conduits of ideas that students carry into adult life.

Word forms

Common combinations

electrical conduits

The electrical conduits were hidden behind the new plaster.

conduits for information

Social networks are powerful conduits for information.

act as conduits

The charities act as conduits for donations from abroad.

underground conduits

Underground conduits keep the power lines safe from storms.

conduits of power

Advisers can become conduits of power in a weak government.

Synonyms and how they differ

channels

Channels is broader and can be natural or abstract, while conduits stresses a purpose-built route that carries something through.

pipes

Pipes is the everyday word for physical tubes, whereas conduits sounds more technical and can also protect wires, not just liquid.

intermediaries

Intermediaries refers only to people or bodies in the middle of a deal, while conduits can also be physical or impersonal.

pathways

Pathways suggests routes to follow, while conduits suggests something that actively carries material through.

Word family

conduit noun

a single channel or pipe, or a person or system that passes something along

conduct verb

to carry heat or electricity along, or to lead or manage something

conductor noun

a material that carries electricity, or a person who leads an orchestra

Commonly confused: conduits or conducts?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “conduits”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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