reservoir

[ rez-er-vwahr, -vwawr, -vawr, rez-uh- ]

noun

1. a natural or artificial place where water is collected and stored for use, especially water for supplying a community, irrigating land, furnishing power, etc.
2. a receptacle or chamber for holding a liquid or fluid.
3. Geology. pool16
4. Biology. a cavity or part that holds some fluid or secretion.
5. a place where anything is collected or accumulated in great amount.

   Synonyms: stockpile, fund, pool, store, hoard

6. a large or extra supply or stock; reserve:

   a reservoir of knowledge.

reservoir

/ ˈrɛzəˌvwɑː /

noun

1. a natural or artificial lake or large tank used for collecting and storing water, esp for community water supplies or irrigation
2. a receptacle for storing gas, esp one attached to a stove
3. biology a vacuole or cavity in an organism, containing a secretion or some other fluid
4. anatomy another name for cisterna
5. a place where a great stock of anything is accumulated
6. a large supply of something; reserve

   a reservoir of talent

reservoir

/ rĕz′ər-vwär′ /

1. A natural or artificial pond or lake used for the storage of water.
2. An underground mass of rock or sediment that is porous and permeable enough to allow oil or natural gas to accumulate in it.
3. An organism that is the host for a parasitic pathogen or that directly or indirectly transmits a pathogen to which it is immune.

Word History and Origins

Origin of reservoir¹

1680–90; < French réservoir, equivalent to réserv ( er ) to reserve + -oir -ory ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of reservoir¹

C17: from French réservoir , from réserver to reserve

Example Sentences

In recent years, states that depend on the river have adopted a series of incremental water-saving plans in an effort to prevent the Colorado’s reservoirs from falling to critically low levels.

From Los Angeles Times

Even with lifelong ART treatment, the virus remains latent in reservoirs throughout the body that can reactivate at any time, and over the long-term, these reservoirs can contribute to chronic inflammation and comorbidities.

From Science Daily

The virus was also detected in pigs for the first time recently, which concerns experts because this gives the pathogen another mammalian reservoir that could raise the risk of a pandemic like COVID-19.

From Salon

But there was an additional inspiration that might explain why the music evokes such deep reservoirs of feeling: It started off as a breakup song.

From New York Times

Karl Stock, the Bureau of Reclamation’s regional director, said adding more storage capacity in the reservoir is a “crucial part of our strategy for enhancing water reliability” in the state.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• basin
• cistern
• container
• lake
• pond
• pool
• reserve
• source
• stockpile
• storage
• supply
• tank