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Glite Dictionary
artesian

artesian

6.9
Water found underground that rises to the surface naturally because pressure pushes it up
  • adjective
  • /ɑrˈtiːʒən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : artesiano
  • Many farmers rely on artesian wells to irrigate their crops throughout the dry season.

Examples

  • In pre-Hispanic times, the Aztecs used water from artesian wells located within the lacustrine zone and were completely self-sufficient in their use of water resources.

    Academic text (1997)

  • The UNLU calls on the owners of artesian wells to reduce the price of water...

    Academic text (1994)

  • The artesian well provided a reliable source of water for the community without the need for pumps.

  • The artesian spring bubbled up from the ground, offering fresh water to hikers on the trail.

Antonyms

subartesian
  • Specialized
9.9

Water that rises in a well but does not reach the surface

Compounds

artesian well
  • Specialized
1 4.9

A well drilled through rock into water that rises to the surface from natural pressure

Surface Forms

artesian positive

Morphology

artesian = Artois (opaque) = Artois + ian

Derived from the place name Artois plus the suffix '-ian', the historical place-based origin does not transparently convey the specialised sense of water rising under pressure to an average learner.

Etymology

The word artesian comes from the French region Artois, where people found wells whose water rose up because of natural pressure. So an artesian well is one where water comes 'to the surface' without pumping.