Word Study
watershed
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Noun watershed has 3 senses
- watershed(n = noun.location) divide, water parting - a ridge of land that separates two adjacent river systems; Array is a kind of line
- watershed(n = noun.location) basin, catchment area, catchment basin, drainage area, drainage basin, river basin - the entire geographical area drained by a river and its tributaries; an area characterized by all runoff being conveyed to the same outlet; "flood control in the Missouri basin" has particulars: detention basin, retention basin
- watershed(n = noun.event) landmark, turning point - an event marking a unique or important historical change of course or one on which important developments depend; "the agreement was a watershed in the history of both nations" is a kind of juncture, occasion
has particulars: continental divide, great divide
is a kind of geographic area, geographic region, geographical area, geographical region
has particulars: fall of man, road to damascus
CIDE DICTIONARY
watershed, n. [Cf. G. wasserscheide; wasser water + scheide a place where two things separate, fr. scheiden to separate.].
- The whole region or extent of country which contributes to the supply of a river or lake. [1913 Webster]
- The line of division between two adjacent rivers or lakes with respect to the flow of water by natural channels into them; the natural boundary of a basin; -- called also
divide andwater parting . [1913 Webster] - a point in time marking an important transition between two situations, or phases of an activity; a turning point. [PJC]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
watershed, n.
1 a line of separation between waters flowing to different rivers, basins, or seas.
2 a turning-point in affairs.
1 a line of separation between waters flowing to different rivers, basins, or seas.
2 a turning-point in affairs.
Etymology
WATER + shed ridge of high ground (rel. to SHED(2)), after G Wasserscheide
For further exploring for "watershed" in Webster Dictionary Online
