catchment area

American  

noun

1. an area served by a hospital, social service agency, etc.

2. drainage basin.

---

catchment area British  

noun

1. Also called: catchment basin.   drainage area.   drainage basin.  the area of land bounded by watersheds draining into a river, basin, or reservoir

2. the area from which people are allocated to a particular school, hospital, etc

---

catchment area Scientific  

/ kăch′mənt,kĕch′- /

1. The area drained by a river or body of water.

2. The area that absorbs water that contributes to a specific region's groundwater supply.

---

Example Sentences

"In terms of education, I know how lucky we are in be in a good catchment area - but we need to be balancing things out a bit," he added.

From BBC

Residents with low incomes in the Tandridge District Council catchment area can request a grant to help with living costs from 10:00 GMT on Monday.

From BBC

Each authority has its own guide for parents, including information on issues like catchment areas.

From BBC

The issue has been hugely controversial along the River Wye in recent years, with as many as 23 million chickens - a quarter of the UK's poultry production - raised in the river's catchment area.

From BBC

As many as 23 million chickens, a quarter of the UK's poultry production, are raised in the river's catchment area.

From BBC