wa|ter|shed

wa|ter|shed
wa|ter|shed «WT uhr SHEHD, WOT-», noun.
1. the ridge between the regions drained by two different river systems. On one side of a watershed, rivers and streams flow in one direction; on the other side, they flow in the opposite direction.
2. the region drained by one river system.
3. Forestry. an area of sloping land down which water drains from rain or melted snow.
4. Figurative. a point at which a notable change takes place; turning point: »

The two short papers…mark a watershed in the intellectual history of mankind (Science).

╂[< water + shed2, in the Scottish sense of “portion of land.” Compare German Wasserscheide.]

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • wa·ter·shed — /ˈwɑːtɚˌʃɛd/ noun, pl sheds [count] 1 : a time when an important change happens usually singular The protests mark a watershed [=turning point] in the history of the country. often used before another noun a watershed moment/year/event …   Useful english dictionary

  • bit´ter|ness — bit|ter1 «BIHT uhr», adjective, adverb, noun, verb. –adj. 1. having a sharp, harsh, unpleasant taste: »Brussels sprouts are often bitter. SYNONYM(S): acrid. 2. Figurative. causing pain or grief; hard to admit or bear: »a bitter defeat. Failure is …   Useful english dictionary

  • bit´ter|ly — bit|ter1 «BIHT uhr», adjective, adverb, noun, verb. –adj. 1. having a sharp, harsh, unpleasant taste: »Brussels sprouts are often bitter. SYNONYM(S): acrid. 2. Figurative. causing pain or grief; hard to admit or bear: »a bitter defeat. Failure is …   Useful english dictionary

  • bit|ter — bit|ter1 «BIHT uhr», adjective, adverb, noun, verb. –adj. 1. having a sharp, harsh, unpleasant taste: »Brussels sprouts are often bitter. SYNONYM(S): acrid. 2. Figurative. causing pain or grief; hard to admit or bear: »a bitter defeat. Failure is …   Useful english dictionary

  • Tomas Thormodsæter Haugen — Tomas Thormodsæter Haugen, plus connu sous le pseudonyme Samoth, est un guitariste de black metal et de death Metal norvégien Biographie Samoth est plus …   Wikipédia en Français

  • a|but´ter — a|but «uh BUHT», verb, a|but|ted, a|but|ting. –v.t. to border on; adjoin; meet: »A shed abuts the barn. –v.i. to touch at one end or edge; end at; …   Useful english dictionary

  • blood|let|ter — «BLUHD LEHT uhr», noun. a person or thing that causes blood to flow or be shed …   Useful english dictionary

  • char|ac|ter|ol|o|gy — «KAR ihk tuh ROL uh jee», noun. the study of character or personality: »Freudian themes…have given the world a new conception of both infancy and adolescence, and shed much new light upon characterology (G. Stanley Hall) …   Useful english dictionary

  • watershed — 1. The area of marginal blood flow at the extreme periphery of a vascular bed. 2. Slopes in the abdominal cavity, formed by projections of the lumbar vertebrae and the pelvic brim that determine the direction in which a free …   Medical dictionary

  • watershed — wa|ter|shed [ˈwo:təʃed US ˈwo:tər , ˈwa: ] n [Date: 1800 1900; Origin: water + shed line of high ground (16 21 centuries) (from Old English scead separation ); suggested by German wasserscheide] 1.) an event or time when important changes happen… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”