basin

[ bey-suhn ]

noun

1. a circular container with a greater width than depth, becoming smaller toward the bottom, used chiefly to hold water or other liquid, especially for washing.
2. any container of similar shape, as the pan of a balance.
3. the quantity held by such a container:

   We need another basin of water to dilute the mixture.

4. a natural or artificial hollow place containing water.
5. a partially enclosed, sheltered area along a shore, often partly man-made or dredged to a greater depth, where boats may be moored:

   a yacht basin.

6. Geology. an area in which the strata dip from the margins toward a common center.
7. Physical Geography.
   1. a hollow or depression in the earth's surface, wholly or partly surrounded by higher land:

      river basin.

   2. drainage basin.
8. Botany. the depression in an apple, pear, or other pome at the end opposite the stem.

basin

/ ˈbeɪsən /

noun

1. a round container open and wide at the top with sides sloping inwards towards the bottom or base, esp one in which liquids are mixed or stored
2. Also calledbasinful the amount a basin will hold
3. a washbasin or sink
4. any partially enclosed or sheltered area where vessels may be moored or docked
5. the catchment area of a particular river and its tributaries or of a lake or sea
6. a depression in the earth's surface
7. geology a part of the earth's surface consisting of rock strata that slope down to a common centre

basin

/ bā′sĭn /

1. A region drained by a river and its tributaries.
2. A low-lying area on the Earth's surface in which thick layers of sediment have accumulated. Some basins are bowl-shaped while others are elongate. Basins form through tectonic processes, especially in fault-bordered intermontane areas or in areas where the Earth's crust has warped downwards. They are often a source of valuable oil.
3. An artificially enclosed area of a river or harbor designed so that the water level remains unaffected by tidal changes.

Other Words From

• basin·al adjective
• basined adjective
• basin·like adjective
• inter·basin adjective
• subbasin noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of basin¹

1175–1225; Middle English bacin < Old French < Late Latin bac ( c ) īnum ( bacc ( a ) water vessel, back ³ + -īnum -ine ¹ ); perhaps further related in Latin to beaker

Word History and Origins

Origin of basin¹

C13: from Old French bacin , from Late Latin bacchīnon , from Vulgar Latin bacca (unattested) container for water; related to Latin bāca berry

Example Sentences

Dr Funk says higher rainfall has continued since then over the Lake Victoria basin that feeds into South Sudan, but it is not clear whether this is a permanent new pattern.

From BBC

There is no sink in the room, so any washing up has to be done in the small bathroom wash basin.

From BBC

The Lake Chad basin is bordered by Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria - all of which are part of a Multinational Joint Task Force that seeks to stamp out the armed groups operating in the region.

From BBC

Fans can look out from the stadium parking lot to a different Los Angeles, dotted with skyscrapers spreading out across the basin.

From Los Angeles Times

The service forecast moderate to major river flooding in central Florida and the St. Johns River basin over the weekend and through the coming weeks.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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