gulf/gʌlf; ɡʌlf/n [C] 1 a large area of sea partly surrounded by land 海湾: the Gulf of Mexico 墨西哥湾2 the Gulf the Arabian Gulf and the countries next to it 海湾国家﹐海湾地区〔即阿拉伯湾及附近国家〕3 a great difference and lack of understanding between two groups of people 鸿沟﹐分歧﹐隔阂: +between the gulf between the rich and the poor 贫富之间的鸿沟