drainage basin

noun

1. the area drained by a river and all its tributaries.

drainage basin

noun

1. another name for catchment area

drainage basin

/ drā′nĭj /

1. An area drained by a river system. A drainage basin includes all areas that gather precipitation water and direct it to a particular stream, stream system, lake, or other body of standing water.

Word History and Origins

Origin of drainage basin¹

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85