Gully vs. Sump — What's the Difference?

A gully is a landform created by running water, eroding sharply into soil or other relatively erodable material, typically on a hillside. Gullies resemble large ditches or small valleys, but are metres to tens of metres in depth and width.

A sump (American English and some parts of Canada: oil pan) is a low space that collects often undesirable liquids such as water or chemicals. A sump can also be an infiltration basin used to manage surface runoff water and recharge underground aquifers.

A ravine formed by the action of water.

A low-lying place, such as a pit, that receives drainage.

A fielding position on the off side between point and the slips

A cesspool.

An alley.

A hole at the lowest point of a mine shaft into which water is drained in order to be pumped out.

(of water) make gullies or deep channels in (land)

The crankcase or oil reservoir of an internal-combustion engine.

A deep ditch or channel cut in the earth by running water after a prolonged downpour.

A hollow or pit into which liquid drains, such as a cesspool, cesspit or sink.

A channel in the side of a mountain, especially one forming a path for avalanches or rockfall.

The lowest part of a mineshaft into which water drains.

A large knife.

A completely flooded cave passage, sometimes passable by diving.

To wear a deep ditch or channel in.

(automotive) The crankcase or oil reservoir of an internal combustion engine.

To form a deep ditch or channel.

(nautical) The pit at the lowest point in a circulating or drainage system (FM 55-501).

A trench, ravine or narrow channel which was worn by water flow, especially on a hillside.

(construction) An intentional depression around a drain or scupper that promotes drainage.

A small valley.

(intransitive) Of a cave passage, to end in a sump, or to fill completely with water on occasion.

(UK) A drop kerb.

A round pit of stone, lined with clay, for receiving the metal on its first fusion.

A road drain.

The cistern or reservoir made at the lowest point of a mine, from which is pumped the water which accumulates there.

(cricket) A fielding position on the off side about 30 degrees behind square, between the slips and point; a fielder in such a position

A pond of water for salt works.

(UK) A grooved iron rail or tram plate.

A puddle or dirty pool.

A large knife.

An oil reservoir in an internal combustion engine

(India) an alleyway or side street.

A well or other hole in which water has collected

(obsolete) To flow noisily..

A covered cistern; waste water and sewage flow into it

(transitive) To wear away into a gully or gullies.

A large knife.

A channel or hollow worn in the earth by a current of water; a short deep portion of a torrent's bed when dry.

A grooved iron rail or tram plate.

To wear into a gully or into gullies.

To flow noisily.

Deep ditch cut by running water (especially after a prolonged downpour)