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basin

basin

72 3.1
An area of land where water collects and flows into a river, lake, or sea
  • noun
  • /ˈbeɪsən/
translation icon : cuenca
  • The Amazon basin is a vast area where the river collects water from surrounding land.
  • drainage basin
  • river basin
  • lake basin

OK From off of the land surfaces into the ocean basins.

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Examples

  • Establishing a coordinated regional action in the Euphrates-Tigris basin still presents a great challenge.

    Academic text (2008)
  • The Euphrates and Tigris River basin accounts for 28.5 percent of the surface water supply in Turkey.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Amazon basin in the north, once an island sea...

  • Nearly 100 million people within these basin countries live on less than a dollar a day.

    Academic text (2008)
  • But it is also quite common in the Mediterranean basin like Southern Europe, Spain.

  • You see what's happening at the Amazon basin with the forest fires there in recent times.

  • So here's the Los Angeles basin surrounded by mountains.

  • Cold polar water is filling up the deep ocean basins all around the world.

  • Also relevant to the argument is the fact that the Nile basin countries have predominantly agricultural economies.

    Academic text (2008)
  • The poster child I would say is the Murray Darling Basin in in Australia where they have completely redone how they allocate water.

Synonyms

watershed
vsbasin
  • Specialized
16 6.1

An area of land where rain flows into one river

focuses instead on areas where water collects and drains together
depression
vsbasin
  • Specialized
11 5.3

A low area of land that forms a hollow

is broader, also meaning an entire drained land region not just hollow
catchment
vsbasin
  • Specialized
3 6.4

An area of land that collects rain and sends water into a river or reservoir

also includes the hollow form where water pools and drains
catchment area
vsbasin
  • Specialized
1 5.6

An area of land where rain and water flow into the same river, lake, or reservoir

can also mean a hollow shape as well as that whole area
river basin
vsbasin
  • Specialized
1 3.5

Land where a river and its streams send water to the same place

is more general, also covering small hollows that collect water
drainage basin
vsbasin
  • Specialized
1 4.0

A large area of land where all the rain and rivers flow into the same river or sea

can also mean a specific hollow where water collects locally
drainage area
vsbasin
  • Specialized
1 3.7

Area of land that sends water into a river or lake

may also mean a physical hollow that holds water before draining
catchment basin
vsbasin
  • Specialized
6.2

An area of land where all rain flows into a river, lake or reservoir

is broader, also meaning a land hollow where water gathers
4.6

A low hollow in the ground that often holds water

includes that hollow meaning but also the larger land area that drains

Compounds

emesis basin
  • Specialized
2 7.1

A shallow, curved bowl patients use to hold vomit

river basin
  • Specialized
1 3.5

Land where a river and its streams send water to the same place

drainage basin
  • Specialized
1 4.0

A large area of land where all the rain and rivers flow into the same river or sea

1 6.0

A pool near the sea that fills with water at high tide used for docks or flood control

3.0

A small object that stops water leaving a sink or bathtub

catchment basin
  • Specialized
6.2

An area of land where all rain flows into a river, lake or reservoir

detention basin
  • Specialized
6.3

A built area that holds rainwater from storms briefly and releases it slowly to reduce flooding downstream

An industrial area in eastern Ukraine and southwest Russia known for coal mining

retention basin
  • Specialized
5.2

A pond made by people that holds rainwater to prevent flooding and keep the water clean

slop basin
  • Archaic
9.8

A bowl for emptying leftover tea or coffee at the table

A bowl fixed to a wall or on a stand where people clean their hands and face

How Big

valley
1.0
depression
  • Specialized
11 5.3
basin
72 3.1
hollow
44 3.9

Surface Forms

basin singular
basins plural

Etymology

The word basin comes from an Old French word bacin meaning 'bowl'. Think of the land as a large bowl that holds rain and rivers, so a river basin is the area where water collects and then drains into a river, lake, or sea.