chute

1 of 2

noun

ˈshüt 

variants or less commonly shute

1

a

: fall sense 6b

b

: a quick descent (as in a river) : rapid

2

: an inclined plane, sloping channel, or passage down or through which things may pass : slide

3

: parachute

4

: spinnaker

chute

2 of 2

verb

chuted; chuting

transitive verb

: to convey by a chute

intransitive verb

1

: to go in or as if in a chute

2

: to utilize a chute (as by passing ore down it)

Examples of chute in a Sentence

Noun

She dropped the towels into the laundry chute.

children sliding down a water chute

The skiers came racing down the chute.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In addition to above-treeline bowls and expert chutes, Banff Sunshine is known for its broad groomers and accessible beginner terrain, which can be easily accessed by Sunshine Mountain Lodge, the only ski-in ski-out hotel within Banff National Park. —Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 24 Apr. 2026

After getting two quick outs the lefty gave up back-to-back doubles to Matt Vierling and Dingler, the latter of which put the Tigers up 1-0 right out of the chute. —Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 19 Apr. 2026

Verb

French novelist Aude Walker wrote a piece of fiction from a single prompt, the word chute, meaning fall, ending, punchline, or offcut, transforming it into a meditation on renewal that mirrors Polène's own Plèi collection, which reimagines leather scraps into new creations. —Pooja Mistry, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2026

The other standout feature is its grind retention, which refers to how much coffee gets caught in the burrs or chute and left behind. —Noah Kaufman, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French, from Old French, from cheoir to fall, from Latin cadere — more at chance

First Known Use

Noun

1805, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1884, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing chute

• out of the chute

Rhymes for chute

• beaut
• boot
• bruit
• brut
• brute
• coot
• cute
• flute
• fruit
• hoot
• jute
• loot

Kids Definition

chute

noun

variants also shute

ˈshüt

1

: an inclined plane, sloping channel, or passage down or through which things may pass

a coal chute

a mail chute

2

: parachute entry 1 sense 1