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Ottawa River

Ottawa River

1 3.9
A large river in eastern Canada that forms part of the border between Quebec and Ontario
  • proper noun
  • /ˈɑːtəwə ˈrɪvər/
: río Ottawa
  • The Ottawa River is known for its stunning scenery and outdoor activities.

Examples

  • I enjoyed a beautiful day kayaking on the Ottawa River in the summer.

  • Fishing along the banks of the Ottawa River is a popular pastime for locals.

  • Many of these lakes are either near the town of Cobalt or drain into the nearby Lake Temiskaming, which is a recreational center and headwater for the Ottawa River.

    Academic text (2018)

Synonyms

Outaouais
vsOttawa River
1 9.9

A river in southeastern Canada that forms part of the border between Quebec and Ontario

is the English name for the same river

Surface Forms

Morphology

Ottawa + river

This is a transparent place-name construction: combining the proper noun 'Ottawa' with the noun 'river' clearly denotes the river associated with Ottawa. While detailed geographic facts (provincial boundary, confluence with the Saint Lawrence) are not inferable, a B1 learner who knows both constituents will immediately understand it refers to a river named for Ottawa.

Etymology

Ottawa River gets its name from the local people called the Ottawa (Odawa), who lived and traded along its banks; their name means 'to trade'. Because the river was a main route for travel and business, it was named for them and still carries that name today.