inlet
inlet
Pronunciation
Here is the phonetic spelling, word forms, and definitions for inlet.
Phonetic Spelling
The IPA phonetic spelling for "inlet" is /ˈɪnlɛt/ or /ˈɪnlɪt/.
Syllable 1 (in-): /ˈɪn/
/ɪ/ as in it or pin
/n/ as in no or sun
Syllable 2 (-let): /lɛt/ or /lɪt/
/l/ as in let or feel
/ɛ/ as in let or bed (common in many accents)
/ɪ/ as in kit or bid (also common, rhymes with "booklet")
/t/ as in top or cat
Word Form Variations
Noun (Singular): inlet
Noun (Plural): inlets
Verb (Base): inlet
Verb (Present): inlets
Verb (Past / Participle): inlet / inletted
Verb (Gerund/Present Participle): inletting
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A narrow body of water, such as a small bay or cove, that recedes from a larger body of water (like an ocean, sea, or lake) into the land.
Synonyms: cove, bay, estuary, fjord, creek, arm
Antonyms: peninsula, headland, promontory, cape
A passage, opening, or valve through which a fluid (like liquid or gas) enters a machine, pipe, or container.
Synonyms: entrance, intake, opening, port, valve
Antonyms: outlet, exit, exhaust, outflow
Verb
(Often used in woodworking or gunsmithing) To set or insert something into the surface of another object so it sits flush; to create a precisely shaped recess for an inlay.
Synonyms: insert, inlay, set, embed
Antonyms: remove, extract, raise
Examples of Use
In Books
As a geographical feature: "We breakfasted ashore in a snug little sandy inlet, which was beaten upon by a heavy sea without, but was as calm as a mill-pond within..." (Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson).
In Newspapers and Online Publications
Geography/Environment: "The project aims to restore the natural flow of the tide in and out of the inlet, which supporters say will improve water quality and habitat for fish and wildlife." (Adapted from articles about the Wreck Pond Inlet, New Jersey).
Engineering/Automotive: "The new engine design features a dual-scroll turbocharger with a high-flow inlet manifold to improve throttle response and reduce lag." (Common in publications like Car and Driver or MotorTrend).
Real Estate: "The property boasts stunning views of the inlet, with a private dock perfect for kayaking or paddleboarding." (Typical in real estate listings, e.g., Zillow or The New York Times Real Estate section).
In Entertainment
Documentaries: "Here along the coast of British Columbia, the grizzlies gather at the mouth of the inlet to feast on salmon returning to spawn." (Typical narration from a nature documentary, like Planet Earth or National Geographic).
In General Public Discourse
Mechanical/DIY: "If the engine is sputtering, you should first check to make sure the fuel inlet isn't clogged."
Travel/Recreation: "We're going to rent a cabin up at the inlet this weekend."
Boating/Fishing: "Let's anchor the boat inside the inlet; the water will be much calmer there than in the open bay."
10 Famous Quotes Using Inlet
Each one of us is an outlet to God and an inlet to God. (Ernest Holmes)
The eye is the inlet to the soul, and it is well to beware of him whose visual organs avoid your honest regard. (Hosea Ballou)
God sends ten thousand truths, which come about us like birds seeking inlet; but we are shut up to them, and so they bring us nothing... (Henry Ward Beecher)
There are continents and seas in the moral world to which every man is an isthmus or an inlet, yet unexplored by him. (Henry David Thoreau, Walden)
"Well," said the cook, "perhaps it's not a house of refuge that I'm thinking of as being near Mosquito Inlet Light." (Stephen Crane, The Open Boat)
We walked on until we reached an inlet. (Kahlil Gibran, "The Greater Sea")
We are the People of the Inlet — specifically, səl̓ilw̓ət, or the Burrard Inlet, where Vancouver is today. (Rueben George, Tsleil-Waututh Nation)
Every neglected, self-pitying inlet, / Muttering in brackish dialect, the ropes of mangroves... (Derek Walcott, "The Castaway")
...the inlet our friend looks as he did / when we first knew him, and until I wake I believe / I will die of grief... (Wendell Berry, "Given")
...he... at the end of the film looks across a little inlet and sees a young man and a young woman in Victorian dress... and recognizing them as his parents. (Frederick Buechner)
Etymology
The etymology of inlet is very straightforward: it’s literally a place that "lets" something "in".
It’s a compound word that was formed in Middle English around the 14th century (the 1300s) by combining two simple words:
In: The preposition meaning "into" or "inward."
Let: The verb meaning "to allow to pass," "to admit," or "to flow."
The first known use of "inlet" as a noun was to mean "an entrance" or "a passage." It was a name for any opening where something (like air, water, or people) was "let in."
Over time, it became most famously used in geography to describe a place where the sea is "let into" the land, creating a narrow bay or cove. The same idea applies to machines: the "inlet" valve is the part that "lets" the fuel or air "in."
Phrases + Idioms Containing Inlet
Here is a list of phrases and idioms using or related to the word "inlet."
Phrases Using "Inlet"
These are typically literal or descriptive phrases:
Coastal inlet
Tidal inlet
Sheltered inlet
Narrow inlet
Rocky inlet
Air inlet (the opening for air in a machine)
Fuel inlet (the port for fuel)
Inlet valve / Inlet pipe
An inlet of calm (a metaphorical phrase describing a peaceful place in a chaotic environment)
Idioms with Synonyms for Similar Effect
Since "inlet" is not commonly used in idioms, here are related idioms that use its synonyms (like bay, cove, or opening).
Keep at bay: To prevent something or someone from coming closer or having an effect.
Get a foot in the door: To gain an initial opportunity or entrance into a field or organization.
The thin end of the wedge: A small action or change that is the beginning of a much larger, often unwelcome, development.
All bay (or bark) and no bite: Refers to someone who makes a lot of threats but doesn't act on them.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of inlet from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
