catch basin

American  

noun

1. a receptacle, located where a street gutter opens into a sewer, designed to retain matter that would not readily pass through the sewer.

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catch basin British  

noun

1. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): catch pit.  a pit in a drainage system in which matter that might otherwise block a sewer is collected so that it may periodically be removed

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Etymology

Origin of catch basin

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

catch basin

Each of the riders covers upward of 30 miles a day to treat every catch basin in the city’s urban and suburban areas, about 75,000 total, over the course of a month.

From Slate ● Aug. 4, 2026

"For these reasons, members of the public should never enter a pipe, drain, catch basin, manhole, or outfall."

From BBC ● Jun. 2, 2026

He thanked members of the California National Guard for clearing debris out of a catch basin that was constructed after the mudslide in order to divert rain.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 13, 2023

“Florida from its beginnings has served as a catch basin for the world’s detritus,” writes Russell Banks in his 14thnovel, “The Magic Kingdom.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 7, 2022

The other three lasers were lowered down to join them and the great catch basin began to take shape.

From The Thirst Quenchers by Raphael, Rick