river basin

noun

, Physical Geography.

1. the area of land drained by a river and its branches.

river basin

1. The land area that is drained by a river and its tributaries. The Mississippi River basin, for example, is a vast area that covers much of the central United States from the central ranges of the Appalachian Mountains in the east to the eastern ranges of the Rocky Mountains in the west, funneling toward its delta in southern Louisiana and emptying into the Gulf of Mexico.

Word History and Origins

Origin of river basin¹

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

He pointed the finger at Spain's Aemet weather agency as well as the independent Júcar authority that looks after the river basin and water resources.

From BBC

“We know now,” Wilkerson said, “that the river basin downtown has a high groundwater table and a really granular type of soil, so there’s a zone in this downtown region where liquefaction is a potential.”

From Los Angeles Times

Of the more than one dozen glacial lake outburst incidents recorded in Nepal in the past 50 years, four have been in the Everest’s Dudhkosi river basin.

From BBC

The trailhead starts at San Pascual Stables and journeys along the concrete river basin, with a few short trails that veer off from the main path.

From Los Angeles Times

Neighbouring Kiambu county, parts of which are on a river basin and have been affected by the floods, has also announced it will take measures to mitigate the situation, including building inspections.

From BBC