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flood control

American  

noun

Civil Engineering.
  1. the act or technique of controlling river flow with dams, dikes, artificial channels, etc., so as to minimize the occurrence of floods.


flood control British  

noun

  1. the technique or practice of preventing or controlling floods with dams, artificial channels, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of flood control

An Americanism dating back to 1925–30

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 province's emergency flood control response has been raised to its highest level.

From BBC Jul. 7, 2026

A month earlier, prosecutors filed charges against another Duterte loyalist, Senator Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada, over his alleged involvement in a massive corruption scandal over bogus flood control projects.

From Barron's Jun. 30, 2026

Water-related investments include $232 million for flood control projects and nearly $70 million to support repairs to existing or new water conveyance projects.

From Los Angeles Times Jan. 9, 2026

If rain totals are on the higher end of forecasts, swift-water rescues could prove necessary should people become trapped in flood control channels or streams, Kittell said.

From Los Angeles Times Nov. 13, 2025

The street looked like a river, and she could see cars and boats stacked up against a flood control gate.

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz

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