catchment

American  

[kach-muhnt] / ˈkætʃ mənt /

noun

1. the act of catching catch water.

2. something for catching catch water, as a reservoir or basin.

3. the water that is caught catch in such a catchment.

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catchment British  

/ ˈkætʃmənt /

noun

1. the act of catching or collecting water

2. a structure in which water is collected

3. the water so collected

4. the intake of a school from one catchment area

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Etymology

Origin of catchment

First recorded in 1840–50; catch + -ment

Example Sentences

The plant is also being established elsewhere across the River Hull catchment, creating the wider network of wetland habitat that the swallowtail will eventually need.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

"In terms of education, I know how lucky we are in be in a good catchment area - but we need to be balancing things out a bit," he added.

From BBC • Jan. 13, 2026

Prof Cloke said the government needed to invest in "catchment management" schemes that limit the speed of rainwater entering river systems.

From BBC • Dec. 9, 2025

The Grove is located near Watford and is well placed to draw fans from the London catchment area.

From BBC • Oct. 6, 2025

It was a device that looked like an inverted umbrella with a good-sized catchment pouch and a connecting rubber tube.

From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel