A gulf is a large area of sea which extends a long way into the surrounding land. Hurricane Andrew was last night heading into the Gulf of Mexico. Any large coastal indentation, similar to a bay but larger. Most existing gulfs were formed or greatly extended as a result of the rise in sea level that accompanied the ending of the last ice age. Some, such as the Gulf of California and the Gulf of Oman, resulted from warping, folding, or downfaulting of the Earth's crust, which caused parts of the shoreline to drop below sea level. Most gulfs are connected with the sea by one or more straits. A gulf may have a group of islands at its mouth or may open into another gulf. Gulfs may differ from the adjoining sea in water properties and sedimentation. Aden Gulf of Alaska Gulf of Amundsen Gulf Aqaba Gulf of Arta Gulf of Gulf of Chihli Bothnia Gulf of California Gulf of Carpentaria Gulf of Exmouth Gulf Fonseca Gulf of Gdansk Gulf of Guacanayabo Gulf of Guinea Gulf of Gulf & Western Inc. Gulf Cooperation Council Gulf Intracoastal Waterway Gulf of Tonkin Resolution Gulf Oil Corp. Gulf Stream Gulf War syndrome Illinois Central Gulf Railroad Co. Joseph Bonaparte Gulf Khambhat Gulf of Gulf of Cambay Laconia Gulf of Leyte Gulf Battle of Lingayen Gulf Lion Gulf of Messenia Gulf of Mexico Gulf of Mirabello Gulf Nicoya Gulf of Oman Gulf of Paria Gulf of Persian Gulf Persian Gulf War First Gulf War Persian Gulf War Second Riga Gulf of Saint Lawrence Gulf of Saint Vincent Gulf Saint Malo Gulf of Saronic Gulf Shelikhov Gulf of Sidra Gulf of Gulf of Sirte Singitic Gulf Suez Gulf of Tehuantepec Gulf of Thailand Gulf of Gulf of Siam Tonkin Gulf of Venice Gulf of Gulf of Gascony
The Gulf is used to refer to the Arabian Gulf, the Persian Gulf and the surrounding countries. the Gulf crisis. the Gulf war. the oil wells of the Gulf
A gulf is an important or significant difference between two people, things, or groups. Within society, there is a growing gulf between rich and poor. the gulf between rural and urban life
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"