watershed

[ waw-ter-shed, wot-er- ]

noun

1. Chiefly British. the ridge or crest line dividing two drainage areas; water parting; divide.
2. the region or area drained by a river, stream, etc.; drainage area.
3. Architecture. wash ( def 45 ).
4. an important point of division or transition between two phases, conditions, etc.:

   The treaty to ban war in space may prove to be one of history's great watersheds.

adjective

1. constituting a watershed:

   a watershed area; a watershed case.

watershed

/ ˈwɔːtəˌʃɛd /

noun

1. the dividing line between two adjacent river systems, such as a ridge
2. an important period or factor that serves as a dividing line

watershed

/ wô′tər-shĕd′ /

1. A continuous ridge of high ground forming a divide between two different drainage basins or river systems.
2. The region enclosed by such a divide and draining into a river, river system, or other body of water.

watershed

1. A ridge of high land dividing two areas that are drained by different river systems. On one side of a watershed, rivers and streams flow in one direction; on the other side they flow in another direction. Also, the area drained by a water system.

Notes

By extension, a “watershed” is a critical point that serves as a dividing line: “The parties reached a watershed in the contract negotiations.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of watershed¹

First recorded in 1795–1805; water + shed ²

Example Sentences

River watershed, said she is glad the city is following through to complete the water recycling project in the San Fernando Valley, but that L.A. should also focus more on managing its stormwater better.

From Los Angeles Times

She has advocated for removing concrete and pavement in parts of the watershed to naturally capture rainwater and recharge groundwater.

From Los Angeles Times

The Catskill watershed is experiencing its largest wildfire on record, with nearly 650 acres burned.

From Slate

Sondheim and Weidman set out to create a show that examines a watershed moment in Japanese history through a Japanese cultural perspective.

From Los Angeles Times

“American Dark Age” should become a watershed in our understanding of a crucial cohort of actors in American history, and also in rethinking the liberal political tradition.

From Salon

Related Words

• bowl
• lagoon
• pan
• pool
• pot
• tub
• valley