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Glite Dictionary
drainage well

drainage well

1 5.5
A hole that lets extra rain or water on the ground flow into the earth
  • noun
  • /ˈdreɪnɪdʒ wɛl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : pozo de drenaje
  • Took him 25 years... to lay the tile, dig the drainage wells.

Examples

  • After the heavy rain, the drainage well quickly removed water from the yard.

  • Couldn't ever keep you away from them drainage wells.

    A Thousand Acres (1997)

  • Dug the drainage well.

    A Thousand Acres (1997)

  • The workers installed a new drainage well to help manage the excess rainwater in the field.

  • To prevent flooding, the city built several drainage wells throughout the neighborhood.

Surface Forms

drainage well singular
drainage wells plural

Morphology

drainage + well

The meaning 'a well for disposing of excess water' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'drainage' (removal of liquid) with 'well' (a shaft or pit for water). This is a straightforward noun+noun compound following common English and cross-linguistic patterns, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Drainage well paints a simple picture: a well for drainage, a hole that lets extra rain or surface water 'drain' down into the soil. That's why a drainage well means a well made to collect and remove extra water so the area does not flood.