Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A large elevated vertical pipe or cylindrical tank that is filled with water to produce a desired pressure.
  • noun A pipe or system of pipes through which water can flow, as for the operation of fire hoses on upper floors of a building.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A fixed vertical pipe for furnishing water to the upper part of a high building in case of fire. The stand-pipe may be connected to a high-pressure water-main or may be dependent on a hose from a fire-engine for its supply.
  • noun A vertical pipe erected at a well or reservoir, into which water is forced by mechanical means in order to obtain a head-pressure sufficient to convey it to a distance.
  • noun A small pipe inserted into an opening in a water-main.
  • noun An upright gas-pipe connecting the retort and the hydraulic main.
  • noun In a steam-engine, a boiler supply-pipe elevated enough to cause water to flow into the boiler in spite of the pressure of steam.
  • noun A pipe on the eduction-pipe of a steam-pump to absorb the concussions due to the pulsation and irregularities caused by the necessary use of bends and changes in the direction of pipes.
  • noun An upright pipe, open at the top, used in connection with a hot-water heating system to allow room for the expansion of the water when heated; an expansion-pipe.
  • noun A portable pipe used to afford a high head of water at fires.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Engin.) A vertical pipe, open at the top, between a hydrant and a reservoir, to equalize the flow of water; also, a large vertical pipe, near a pumping engine, into which water is forced up, so as to give it sufficient head to rise to the required level at a distance.
  • noun (Steam Boiler) A supply pipe of sufficient elevation to enable the water to flow into the boiler, notwithstanding the pressure of the steam.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A vertical pipe into which water is pumped so that a desired pressure is available at the bottom.
  • noun The water supply of a building for the use of firefighters.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a vertical pipe

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Prosecutors say the men knew about, failed to fix and even covered up a break in a crucial firefighting water conduit, called a standpipe, and that was a critical factor in the firefighters 'deaths.

    Ruling Expected In Deutsche Bank Fire Case AP 2010

  • The disabled pipe, called a standpipe, cost firefighters critical time in getting water on the flames, playing a crucial role in creating the smoky inferno that ultimately killed firefighters Robert Beddia and

    CBS 2 - KCAL 9 - Los Angeles - Southern California - LA Breaking News, Weather, Traffic, Sports 2010

  • The disabled pipe, called a standpipe, cost firefighters critical time in getting water on the flames, playing a crucial role in creating the smoky inferno that ultimately killed firefighters Robert Beddia and

    The Seattle Times 2010

  • The disabled pipe, called a standpipe, cost firefighters critical time in getting water on the flames, playing a crucial role in creating the smoky inferno that ultimately killed firefighters Robert Beddia and

    BLACK ENTERPRISE 2010

  • There are photos of the old water tower known as the standpipe, a Sheffield landmark.

    Local News from TimesDaily 2010

  • The disabled pipe, called a standpipe, cost firefighters critical time in getting water on the flames, playing a crucial role in creating the smoky inferno that ultimately killed firefighters Robert Beddia and

    Homepage 2010

  • Another segment of the trail runs from the trail head to the city's historic standpipe, which is near the Tennessee River.

    Local News from TimesDaily 2008

  • The report describes the importance of dispatchers and fire fire crews having electronic access to location of the "standpipe"

    Thestar.com - Home Page 2010

  • His attorney, Susan Hoffinger , told State Supreme Court Judge Rena Uviller , that the cutting of the standpipe was "accidental" and was a "red herring."

    Contractors Claim 'Scapegoating' Tamer El-Ghobashy 2011

  • Mr. DePaola's attorney said his client was a union worker hired to be an abatement supervisor who was fired three months before the fire broke out – but not before being rewarded for managing the clean up of the tower's building where the breach in the standpipe was located.

    Contractors Claim 'Scapegoating' Tamer El-Ghobashy 2011

Comments

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  • "If the dry weather continues during spring, the Environment Agency (EA) has warned the drought could spread.

    The dire warnings bring back memories of 1976 - a year synonymous with sun, widespread water rationing and standpipes in the streets."

    - Vanessa Barford & Lauren Everitt, Eight radical solutions for the water shortage, BBC website, 4 April 2012.

    November 25, 2012