weir
noun
a small dam in a river or stream.
weir
American
[weer]
/ wɪər /
noun
-
weirs
plural
-
a small dam in a river or stream.
-
a fence, as of brush or narrow boards, or a net set in a stream, channel, etc., for catching fish.
Weir
1
British
/ wɪə /
noun
-
Judith. born 1954, Scottish composer: her operas include A Night at the Chinese Opera (1987), and Armida (2005)
-
Peter. born 1944, Australian film director; his films include Dead Poets Society (1989), The Truman Show (1998), and Master and Commander (2003)
weir
2
British
/ wɪə /
noun
-
a low dam that is built across a river to raise the water level, divert the water, or control its flow
-
a series of traps or enclosures placed in a stream to catch fish
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of weir
before 900; Middle English were, Old English wer, derivative of root of werian to defend, dam up
Vocabulary lists containing weir
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
"The really critical bit is getting this weir sorted out so the water doesn't just accelerate the channel and create real problems further down the river," Finley said.
From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026
West Cumbria Rivers Trust is dismantling a redundant weir at Glinger Burn near Longtown to help the eel and other fish migrate up and down the river more easily.
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
The European eel has seen a 90% decline in the last 30 years, the environmental charity said, and risked injury while leaping up the weir when levels are low.
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
The 24-year-old was one of seven participants who took part in the paddleboard tour when the group ran into difficulty while crossing a weir in "treacherous" conditions.
From BBC ● Jun. 8, 2026
If she and her cronies from the College kitchens could get as far as Abingdon, they could play havoc with the weir....
From "The Golden Compass" by Philip Pullman
“The refugee camps in Chad are still very unstable,” said Weir, who has visited the camps multiple times.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2026
Did you see that picture of Cardellini and wonder what cool-as-a-cuke Lindsay Weir from “Freaks and Geeks” has been up to?
From Salon ● Oct. 18, 2026
Weir and a small crew are sent on a recovery mission after the lost spaceship, the Event Horizon, suddenly reappears in orbit around Neptune, issuing a distress signal.
From Salon ● Jul. 17, 2026
Tops on that list is the late Grateful Dead founder Bob Weir — who died in January at 78 — as a model for a band staying fearless and uncompromising.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 3, 2026
The only slight drawback is that I’m one table over from Brij Nath and Matthew Weir, both of whom slurp cafeteria chili and gargle it in the back of their throats as a joke.
From "From Twinkle, with Love" by Sandhya Menon
Often the barriers are small culverts or weirs that are redundant and could be removed, said Dr Janina Gray, head of science at environment charity WildFish.
From BBC ● Mar. 24, 2026
The study found the highest levels of genetic isolation in rivers that were both polluted with metal and affected by physical barriers such as dams and weirs.
From Science Daily ● May 30, 2024
For example, to harvest fish sustainably, the Passamaquoddy have begun to redeploy traditional fish weirs.
From Science Magazine ● Oct. 25, 2023
The tribunal also said the riverbanks and locations of the proposed weirs were of archaeological interest and significant for cultural heritage.
From Reuters ● Apr. 7, 2023
At the opposite extreme, some aboriginal fishing groups of southeastern Australia devised elaborate technologies for managing fish populations, including the construction of canals, weirs, and standing traps.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
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