Shaft vs. Duct — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on August 24, 2023
A shaft is a long, narrow part or structure, while a duct is a channel or tube for conveying substances.
Difference Between Shaft and Duct
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A shaft typically refers to a long, narrow section or part, especially when vertical, which is commonly associated with machinery or structures. On the other hand, a duct is generally understood as a conduit or channel, often used to carry air, fluid, or other substances from one location to another.
In engineering, a shaft often functions as an integral component of machinery, transmitting rotational motion and torque. A duct, conversely, is more related to HVAC systems, plumbing, or other infrastructure where the movement of substances, such as air or water, is essential.
Shaft can also have non-engineering connotations, such as an arrow shaft or a shaft of light, indicating its length or directionality. A duct, in contrast, retains its primary meaning of being a passage or conduit, whether it's a tear duct or an air duct.
Within the realm of construction and architecture, a shaft can mean a vertical passageway, like an elevator shaft. A duct, within the same domain, is primarily used to indicate systems that facilitate the movement of air, heating, or cooling.
While both shaft and duct imply some form of passage or conduit, a shaft usually leans towards structure or machinery, and a duct predominantly refers to channels for transferring substances.
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Comparison Chart
Primary Meaning
A long, narrow part or structure.
A channel or tube for conveying substances.
Common Usage
Often linked to machinery and motion.
Primarily tied to movement of air or fluids.
Structural vs. Functional
Often more structural or part of a system.
More functional, used for transmission.
Examples
Arrow shaft, elevator shaft.
Air duct, tear duct.
Physical Orientation
Typically vertical but can be any direction.
Often horizontal but varies.
Compare with Definitions
Shaft
A long, narrow part or section forming the handle of a tool or club, the body of a spear or arrow, or similar.
He gripped the shaft of the hammer tightly.
Duct
A tube, pipe, or passageway for the transmission of air, liquid, or cable.
The air conditioning duct was leaking water.
Shaft
A vertical passage into a mine
Duct
A conduit used in the body for the passage of secretions or excretions.
A tear duct can get blocked, leading to watery eyes.
Shaft
(Zoology) The main axis of a feather, especially its distal portion.
Duct
A structure in an animal or plant serving as a passage for fluids or air.
The bile duct connects the liver to the intestine.
Shaft
A ray or beam of light or energy.
A shaft of sunlight illuminated the room.
Duct
A channel or tube for electrical wires or cables.
We ran the cables through a protective duct.
Shaft
A revolving rod that transmits power or motion
Duct
A vent or flue conducting air or gas.
The heating system required a new duct to improve airflow.
Shaft
The body of the penis, extending from the root to the glans.
Duct
To channel through a duct
Duct the moist air away.
Shaft
A ray or beam of light.
Duct
To channel something (such as a gas) or propagate something (such as radio waves) through a duct or series of ducts
Shaft
A bolt of lightning.
Duct
Guidance; direction.
Shaft
(transitive) To equip with a shaft.
Duct
An often enclosed passage or channel for conveying a substance, especially a liquid or gas.
Shaft
The long narrow stem or body of a spear or arrow.
Duct
(Anatomy) A tubular bodily canal or passage, especially one for carrying a glandular secretion
A tear duct.
Shaft
A spear or arrow.
Duct
A tube or pipe for enclosing electrical cables or wires.
Shaft
The handle of any of various tools or implements.
Duct
To supply with ducts.
Shaft
One of two parallel poles between which an animal is harnessed to a vehicle.
Duct
A pipe, tube or canal which carries gas or liquid from one place to another
Heating and air-conditioning ducts
Air duct
Shaft
A long, generally cylindrical bar that rotates and transmits power, as the drive shaft of an engine.
Duct
An enclosure or channel for electrical cable runs, telephone cables, or other conductors
Bus duct
Shaft
The midsection of a long bone; the diaphysis.
Duct
(anatomy) a vessel for conveying lymph or glandular secretions such as tears or bile
Shaft
The section of a hair projecting from the surface of the body.
Duct
(botany) a tube or elongated cavity (such as a xylem vessel) for conveying water, sap, or air
Shaft
The body of the clitoris, extending from the root to the glans.
Duct
(physics) a layer (as in the atmosphere or the ocean) which occurs under usually abnormal conditions and in which radio or sound waves are confined to a restricted path
Shaft
A column or obelisk.
Duct
(obsolete) guidance, direction
Shaft
The principal portion of a column, between the capital and the base.
Duct
To enclose in a duct
Shaft
A long, narrow, often vertical passage sunk into the earth, as for mining ore; a tunnel.
Duct
Any tube or canal by which a fluid or other substance is conducted or conveyed.
Shaft
A vertical passage housing an elevator.
Duct
One of the vessels of an animal body by which the products of glandular secretion are conveyed to their destination.
Shaft
A duct or conduit for the passage of air, as for ventilation or heating.
Duct
A large, elongated cell, either round or prismatic, usually found associated with woody fiber.
Shaft
The upright portion of a boot that covers the leg.
Duct
A bodily passage or tube lined with epithelial cells and conveying a secretion or other substance;
The tear duct was obstructed
The alimentary canal
Poison is released through a channel in the snake's fangs
Shaft
A scornful or sarcastic remark; a barb.
Duct
A continuous tube formed by a row of elongated cells lacking intervening end walls
Shaft
Vulgar Slang A penis.
Duct
An enclosed conduit for a fluid
Shaft
To equip with a shaft.
Shaft
(Slang) To treat in a harsh, unfair way
"He had been shafted by the press quite a bit" (Frank Deford).
Shaft
(Slang) To penetrate (someone) sexually.
Shaft
(obsolete) The entire body of a long weapon, such as an arrow.
Shaft
The long, narrow, central body of a spear, arrow, or javelin.
Her hand slipped off the javelin's shaft towards the spearpoint and that's why her score was lowered.
Shaft
(by extension) Anything cast or thrown as a spear or javelin.
Shaft
A vertical passage housing a lift or elevator; a liftshaft.
Darn it, my keys fell through the gap and into the elevator shaft.
Shaft
A ventilation or heating conduit; an air duct.
Our parrot flew into the air duct and got stuck in the shaft.
Shaft
(architecture) Any column or pillar, particularly the body of a column between its capital and pedestal.
Shaft
The main cylindrical part of the penis.
The female labia minora is homologous to the penis shaft skin of males.
Shaft
The chamber of a blast furnace.
Shaft
(weather) A relatively small area of precipitation that an onlook can discern from the dry surrounding area.
Shaft
To fuck over; to cause harm to, especially through deceit or treachery.
Your boss really shafted you by stealing your idea like that.
Shaft
To fuck; to have sexual intercourse with.
Turns out my roommate was shafting my girlfriend.
Shaft
The slender, smooth stem of an arrow; hence, an arrow.
His sleep, his meat, his drink, is him bereft,That lean he wax, and dry as is a shaft.
A shaft hath three principal parts, the stele [stale], the feathers, and the head.
Shaft
The long handle of a spear or similar weapon; hence, the weapon itself; (Fig.) anything regarded as a shaft to be thrown or darted; as, shafts of light.
And the thunder,Winged with red lightning and impetuous rage,Perhaps hath spent his shafts.
Some kinds of literary pursuits . . . have been attacked with all the shafts of ridicule.
Shaft
That which resembles in some degree the stem or handle of an arrow or a spear; a long, slender part, especially when cylindrical.
Thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold . . . his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same.
Shaft
The handle or helve of certain tools, instruments, etc., as a hammer, a whip, etc.
Bid time and nature gently spareThe shaft we raise to thee.
Shaft
A rod at the end of a heddle.
Shaft
A long pointed rod used as a weapon
Shaft
A vertical passageway through a building (as for an elevator)
Shaft
(architecture) upright consisting of the vertical part of a column
Shaft
The hollow shaft of a feather
Shaft
Equip with a shaft
Shaft
Defeat someone in an expectation through trickery or deceit
Shaft
A vertical opening that gives access from one level to another in a building.
The elevator moved smoothly down the shaft.
Shaft
A rod in machinery, especially one which turns and transmits motion.
The car's drive shaft was damaged in the accident.
Shaft
(Slang) Harsh, unfair treatment. Often used with the
The management gave the unions the shaft.
Shaft
Any long thin object, such as the handle of a tool, one of the poles between which an animal is harnessed to a vehicle, the driveshaft of a motorized vehicle with rear-wheel drive, an axle, etc.
Shaft
A beam or ray of light.
Isn't that shaft of light from that opening in the cave beautiful?
Shaft
The main axis of a feather.
I had no idea that they removed the feathers' shafts to make the pillows softer!
Shaft
(lacrosse) The long narrow body of a lacrosse stick.
Sarah, if you wear gloves your hands might not slip on your shaft and you can up your game, girl!
Shaft
A vertical or inclined passage sunk into the earth as part of a mine
Your grandfather used to work with a crane hauling ore out of the gold mine's shafts.
Shaft
A humming bird (Thaumastura cora) having two of the tail feathers next to the middle ones very long in the male; - called also cora humming bird.
Shaft
A well-like excavation in the earth, perpendicular or nearly so, made for reaching and raising ore, for raising water, etc.
Shaft
A long passage for the admission or outlet of air; an air shaft.
Shaft
The chamber of a blast furnace.
Shaft
A line that forms the length of an arrow pointer
Shaft
An aggressive remark directed at a person like a missile and intended to have a telling effect;
His parting shot was `drop dead'
She threw shafts of sarcasm
She takes a dig at me every chance she gets
Shaft
A long rod or pole (especially the handle of an implement or the body of a weapon like a spear or arrow)
Shaft
A column of light (as from a beacon)
Shaft
The main (mid) section of a long bone
Shaft
Obscene terms for penis
Common Curiosities
Are ducts always used for airflow?
No, ducts can be used for various purposes, including conveying liquids or housing cables.
How is the term "shaft" used in machinery?
In machinery, a shaft often transmits rotational motion and torque.
What's the primary function of a "duct"?
A duct serves as a channel or tube for conveying substances, such as air or fluids.
How does a "duct" differ from a pipe?
While both are conduits, a duct typically refers to channels for air or certain fluids, while a pipe often denotes liquid or gas flow.
Is an arrow's main body referred to as a shaft?
Yes, the long narrow stem or body of an arrow is termed its "shaft."
What is the primary meaning of "shaft"?
A shaft primarily refers to a long, narrow part or structure.
Can "shaft" have a vertical orientation in buildings?
Yes, in buildings, a "shaft" can refer to a vertical passage, like an elevator shaft.
Are ducts specific to man-made structures?
No, there are natural ducts as well, like tear ducts in the human body.
Can "shaft" refer to a beam of light?
Yes, "shaft" can describe a ray or beam of light, as in a "shaft of sunlight."
Can "shaft" have non-engineering meanings?
Yes, "shaft" can also refer to things like an arrow's body or a ray of light.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
