river basin

American  

noun

Physical Geography.

1. the area of land drained by a river and its branches.

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river basin Scientific  

1. The land area that is drained by a river and its tributaries. The Mississippi River basin, for example, is a vast area that covers much of the central United States from the central ranges of the Appalachian Mountains in the east to the eastern ranges of the Rocky Mountains in the west, funneling toward its delta in southern Louisiana and emptying into the Gulf of Mexico.

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Etymology

Origin of river basin

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

The government, it said, should explore alternative irrigation methods in the river basin.

From BBC • Feb. 23, 2025

The trailhead starts at San Pascual Stables and journeys along the concrete river basin, with a few short trails that veer off from the main path.

From Los Angeles Times • May 30, 2024

Neighbouring Kiambu county, parts of which are on a river basin and have been affected by the floods, has also announced it will take measures to mitigate the situation, including building inspections.

From BBC • Apr. 29, 2024

However, the complexity of flood processes in a river basin also depends on the climate and land surface conditions in the respective river basin.

From Science Daily • Mar. 27, 2024

Constrained by its punishing climate, poor soil, and lack of protein, these scientists argue, large-scale societies have never existed—can never exist—in the river basin.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann