irrigation

[ir-i-gey-shuh n]

See more synonyms for irrigation on Thesaurus.com

noun

the artificial application of water to land to assist in the production of crops.
Medicine/Medical. the flushing or washing out of anything with water or other liquid.
the state of being irrigated.

Origin of irrigation

First recorded in 1605–15, irrigation is from the Latin word irrigātiōn- (stem of irrigātiō). See irrigate, -ion

Related formsir·ri·ga·tion·al, adjectivenon·ir·ri·ga·tion, nouno·ver·ir·ri·ga·tion, nounpre·ir·ri·ga·tion, nounpre·ir·ri·ga·tion·al, adjectivepro·ir·ri·ga·tion, adjectivere·ir·ri·ga·tion, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for irrigation

Contemporary Examples

Each year their fields need at least 53 billion cubic meters of water for irrigation.
The Aral Sea's Disappearing Act
Anna Nemtsova
October 4, 2014
The air mixed with fertilizers and pesticides that for decades were washed from the fields into the sea by irrigation water.
The Aral Sea's Disappearing Act
Anna Nemtsova
October 4, 2014
It thus falls to IS to provide drinking water and irrigation to massive areas of farmland.
The ISIS Caliphate’s Frightening First Month
Charlie Winter
July 29, 2014
Egypt's future irrigation and industrial needs require a major increase in the northward flow of the Nile River.
Open Memorandum: Elements of a Possible Peace Deal in Sudan
George Clooney, John Prendergast
November 6, 2010
Later: a tall, silo-like cement building, apparently used for irrigation.
My Night on the Border
Bryan Curtis
May 25, 2010

Historical Examples

There was water in it; it was part of their irrigation system.
Two Thousand Miles Below
Charles Willard Diffin
Irrigation there's just a question of power—that's how he looks at it.
The Great Hunger
Johan Bojer
Irrigation is the sole means of fertilizing, and it seems to be all the soil requires.
Aztec Land
Maturin M. Ballou
It will endure almost any amount of forcing, by liquid manures or irrigation.
Cattle and Their Diseases
Robert Jennings
The water for irrigation is costly, and should be made to go as far as possible.
Agriculture for Beginners
Charles William Burkett

Word Origin and History for irrigation

n.

"a supplying of water to land," 1610s, from Latin irrigationem (nominative irrigatio) "a watering," noun of action from past participle stem of irrigare (see irrigate).

irrigation in Culture

irrigation

Artificial provision of water to sustain growing plants.

Note

Irrigation accounts for the greatest part of water usage in the western United States.

irrigation

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Examples from the Web for irrigation

Contemporary Examples

Each year their fields need at least 53 billion cubic meters of water for irrigation.

The air mixed with fertilizers and pesticides that for decades were washed from the fields into the sea by irrigation water.

It thus falls to IS to provide drinking water and irrigation to massive areas of farmland.

Egypt's future irrigation and industrial needs require a major increase in the northward flow of the Nile River.

Later: a tall, silo-like cement building, apparently used for irrigation.

Historical Examples

There was water in it; it was part of their irrigation system.

Irrigation there's just a question of power—that's how he looks at it.

Irrigation is the sole means of fertilizing, and it seems to be all the soil requires.

It will endure almost any amount of forcing, by liquid manures or irrigation.

The water for irrigation is costly, and should be made to go as far as possible.

Word Origin and History for irrigation

n.

irrigation

Note

Origin of irrigation