Hose - Definition and Overview

For the item of clothing, see Pantyhose.

A hose is a hollow tube designed to carry fluids from one location to another. Hoses are also sometimes called pipes (the word pipe usually refers to a rigid tube, whereas a hose is usually a flexible one). The shape of a hose is usually cylindrical (having a circular cross section).

Hoses are used in water or other liquid environments to convey air or other gases; they are used in air or other gaseous environments to convey liquids.

Specific applications include the following:

• A garden hose is used to water plants in a garden or lawn, or to convey water to a sprinkler for the same purpose.
• A fire hose is used by firefighters to convey water to the site of a fire.
• Air hoses are used in underwater diving (e.g., scuba diving) to carry air from the surface or from air tanks. (See also Snorkel.)
• In architecture, metal or plastic hoses (usually called pipes) are used to move water around a building; air ducts are used to move air around (see Air conditioning).
• Automotive hoses are used in automobiles to move fluids around for use in cooling or lubrication and in hydraulics.
• In chemistry and medicine, hoses (usually called tubes) are used to move liquid chemicals or gases around. (See also Laboratory.)

Hoses are typically used with clamps, spigots, and nozzles to control fluid flow.