"Pipeline" vs. "pipes": flowing through linguistic pathways

Reviewed and edited by

Anwar Kareem 07/10/2024, 05:43

English.me team member

Pipeline and pipes. What's the difference?

What is similar?

Both words are related to conveying or transporting materials or data. They both involve cylindrical conduits in a literal or metaphorical sense.

What is different?

Pipeline refers to a system or process, often involving multiple segments or stages, whereas pipes refer to individual hollow tubes or conduits. Pipeline is often used metaphorically in contexts like software development (e.g., data pipeline), while pipes are typically more literal in plumbing or engineering contexts.

Which one is more common?

Examples of usage

Pipeline

The company's new software pipeline accelerated the data processing tasks.
An oil pipeline was constructed to transport crude oil across the region.
The project is still in the development pipeline.

Pipes

The plumber installed new pipes in the bathroom.
Water flowed through the network of pipes under the city.
He smoked tobacco in a wooden pipe.