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Glite Dictionary
tidal basin

tidal basin

1 6.0
A pool near the sea that fills with water at high tide used for docks or flood control
  • noun
  • /ˈtaɪdəl ˈbeɪsən/
translation icon : cuenca de marea
  • The city constructed a tidal basin to help manage stormwater and prevent flooding.

Examples

  • During high tide, the tidal basin filled up, providing a safe space for the watercraft.

  • The city's low-lying areas, including Georgetown and the tidal basin of the Potomac,

    Blog text (28)

  • The fishermen used the tidal basin to dock their boats when the tide was high.

Synonyms

basin
vstidal basin
72 3.1

An area of land where water collects and flows into a river, lake, or sea

is an enclosed coastal pool filling with seawater at high tide for docks

How Big

estuary
13 4.7
bay
114 1.0
lagoon
55 3.9
tidal basin
1 6.0

Surface Forms

tidal basin singular
tidal basins plural

Morphology

tidal + basin

The meaning is directly and literally compositional: 'tidal' (related to tides) modifies 'basin' (a low area where water collects), so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer a coastal or tide-filled pool. This is a straightforward noun compound following common cross-linguistic patterns, so the sense is predictable from the parts.

Etymology

The phrase tidal basin comes from two simple words: tidal, about the sea's regular rise and fall, and basin, a bowl or pool. So a tidal basin is a pool near the coast that fills at 'high tide' and is often used for docks or to help control flooding.