What does "geyser" mean?
A boiling natural spring which throws forth jets of water, mud, etc., at frequent intervals, driven upwards by the expansive power of steam.
Geyser
/ˈɡaɪ.zɚ/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Uncommon ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A boiling natural spring which throws forth jets of water, mud, etc., at frequent intervals, driven upwards by the expansive power of steam.
- Grammar: geyser is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: hot spring, boiling water, flush, font.
- Useful contrasts: non eruptive spring, steady spring.
- Usage evidence: The geyser sends up a column of hot water every two hours.
How to use "geyser"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "geyser" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "geyser" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "geyser" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "geyser" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
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- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "geyser" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "hot spring" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "geyser", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A boiling natural spring which throws forth jets of water, mud, etc., at frequent intervals, driven upwards by the expansive power of steam.
- 2 a spring that discharges hot water and steam wordnet
- 3 A momentary vertical jet or fountain of fluid driven upwards by a violent force. broadly
"Sporting a few war wounds from Japanese destroyer gunfire, The Sullivans had already launched one spread of torpedoes at the Japanese destroyers that were now littering the ocean floor, or, occasionally, making their own retreat, but she still had one left, so a five-torpedo spread was duly sent at near-point-blank range into the listing and burning remains of Yamato, and, shortly thereafter, four large geysers of water were the reward."
- 4 An instantaneous, and often dangerous, hot water heater. British, archaic
"Where a Geyser or hot-water heater is used it is a good and wise precaution to see that the bath-room, &c., when it is used is well ventilated."
- 5 A domestic water boiler. South-Africa, South-Asia
Verb
- 1 To (cause to) rush or burst upward like water from a geyser. ambitransitive
"Four jets of water geysered upward from the sea. Short and wide. He noted it. Ranging salvo. His division was discovered."
- 2 to overflow like a geyser wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
non eruptive springsteady spring
Example
"The geyser sends up a column of hot water every two hours."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "geyser"?
Common synonyms include: hot spring, boiling water, flush, font, fount, fountain.
How do you use "geyser" in a sentence?
The geyser sends up a column of hot water every two hours.
How do you pronounce "geyser"?
Pronounced /ˈɡaɪ.zɚ/.
Etymology
From the name of a particular Icelandic geyser which is mentioned as early as the 1760s in The Annual Register, as “Geyser, a wonderful spring in the valley of Haukadal”. From Geysir (“Gusher”), the Icelandic name of the hot spring in Iceland (see Wikipedia), from the verb geysa (“to gush”), from Old Norse geysa (“to gush”). Doublet of gusher.