Word: Catchment Basin
Part of Speech: Noun
Definition: A catchment basin is a geographical area where all the rainwater or runoff flows into a single river or body of water. It includes the river and all its smaller streams (called tributaries) that feed into it. Think of it like a big bowl that collects water from the land around it.
Usage Instructions: You can use "catchment basin" when talking about water management, geography, or environmental science. It’s often used in discussions about how water is collected, managed, or affects ecosystems.
Example Sentence: "The catchment basin of the Missouri River collects water from the surrounding hills and valleys, helping to control flooding."
Advanced Usage: In more advanced discussions, you might encounter terms related to catchment basins like "watershed" or "drainage basin," which refer to similar concepts but can have slightly different meanings depending on context.
Word Variants: - Catchment: This can refer to the area that collects water but is often used more generally. - Basin: This can refer to any hollow area that holds water.
Different Meanings: In some contexts, "catchment" may refer to any system designed to collect resources, not just water (for example, a catchment for solar energy).
Synonyms: - Watershed - Drainage area - River basin
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:While there aren't specific idioms or phrasal verbs directly related to "catchment basin," you might hear terms like "drain away," which means to remove water or liquid.
Conclusion: A catchment basin is an important concept in understanding how water flows in nature and how we manage water resources.