faucet

UK: /ˈfɔːsɪt/ US: /ˈfɔsɪt/ ,(fô′sit)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

fau•cet /ˈfɔsɪt/   n. [countable]

1. Building a device for controlling the flow of liquid from a pipe;
   tap:
   The faucet with the "C" on it is for cold water in the U.S. but for hot water in France.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

fau•cet  (fô′sit), n. 

1. Building any device for controlling the flow of liquid from a pipe or the like by opening or closing an orifice;
   tap;
   cock.

• Late Latin falsāre; see false) + -et -et
• Middle French fausset peg for a vent, perh. equivalent. to fauss(er) to force in, damage, warp, literally, to falsify (
• Middle English 1350–1400

Regional Variation

Spigot is a common variant for faucet and is widely used in the Midland U.S. Elsewhere, faucet is more commonly used, esp. in the Northern U.S.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

faucet / ˈfɔːsɪt/ noun

1. a tap fitted to a barrel
2. a valve by which a fluid flow from a pipe can be controlled by opening and closing an orifice
   Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): tap

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French fausset, from Provençal falset, from falsar to bore