an arm of a sea or ocean partly enclosed by land; larger than a bay
"The ship sailed into the calm waters of the gulf to shelter from the stormy seas outside."
an unbridgeable disparity (as from a failure of understanding)
"he felt a gulf between himself and his former friends"
"there is a vast disconnect between public opinion and federal policy"
a deep wide chasm
"The massive financial scandal created such a gulf between the company's public image and its actual practices that no amount of advertising could bridge it."
A hollow place in the earth; an abyss; a deep chasm or basin.
"The ancient legend describes how the earthquake swallowed the temple into a sudden gulf, leaving only shattered stones visible above ground."
In plain English: A gulf is a large deep bay where the ocean meets the land.
"The gulf between the two countries' economies is widening every year."
Usage: While "gulf" can refer to a deep chasm, its most common everyday usage describes a large natural inlet of the sea where land curves inward. Use it to name specific bodies of water like the Persian Gulf or the Gulf of Mexico rather than for abstract emotional distances.
To award a degree to somebody who has only just passed sufficiently.
"The committee decided not to gulf him into our honors program since his final exam scores were barely above the minimum requirement."
In plain English: To gulf means to separate two things by a large distance or gap.
"He gulfed the gap between himself and his new neighbors by inviting them over for dinner."
Usage: As a verb, gulf means to give an academic degree to someone who has barely met the requirements. Use this term when describing the act of granting a credential with minimal justification or effort.
The Persian Gulf, or the region surrounding it.
"The oil prices spiked again after reports surfaced of a potential leak in the northern part of the gulf."
The word "gulf" entered English via Middle English and Old French, tracing back to the Italian golfo. It ultimately derives from Ancient Greek kólpos, meaning "bosom," which likely originated from a root related to curving or arching.