streambed

[ streem-bed ]

noun

1. the channel in which a stream flows or formerly flowed.

Word History and Origins

Origin of streambed¹

First recorded in 1855–60; stream + bed

Example Sentences

Kinter and Roberts said the indentations are streambeds that their Patwin ancestors committed to memory for when they needed water.

From Los Angeles Times

Burrowed into streambeds and rarely moving for their decades-long lifespans, freshwater mussels are biomonitors, meaning they indicate how clean their environment is, according to Penn State researchers.

From Science Daily

Rusty red deposits in streambeds are distinctive signs of iron sulfide oxidation.

From Science Daily

But just a third of a mile farther upstream, the fish will slam into a pile of boulders and junk metal, before confronting two concrete pipes perched 5 feet above the streambed.

From Seattle Times

Large quantities of glacial meltwater churn up rocks and sediment, allowing very little light to reach the streambed, while freezing temperatures and snow in other seasons provide little opportunity for a rich microbiome to develop.

From Science Daily