■ noun
1》 a shallow trough beneath the edge of a roof, or a channel at the side of a street, for carrying off rainwater.
↘ technical a groove or channel for flowing liquid.
2》 ( the ~ ) a poor or squalid existence or environment.
3》 the blank space between facing pages of a book or between adjacent columns of type or stamps in a sheet.
■ verb
1》 (of a flame) flicker and burn unsteadily.
2》 archaic make channels in.
Origin
ME: from OFr. gotiere , from L. gutta 'a drop'.