watershed

[waw-ter-shed, wot-er-]

noun

1. Chiefly British.,  the ridge or crest line dividing two drainage areas; water parting; divide.

2. the region or area drained by a river, stream, etc.; drainage area.

3. Architecture.,  wash.

4. an important point of division or transition between two phases, conditions, etc..

   The treaty to ban war in space may prove to be one of history's great watersheds.

adjective

1. constituting a watershed.

   a watershed area; a watershed case.

watershed

/ ˈwɔːtəˌʃɛd /

noun

1. the dividing line between two adjacent river systems, such as a ridge

2. an important period or factor that serves as a dividing line

watershed

1. A continuous ridge of high ground forming a divide between two different drainage basins or river systems.

2. The region enclosed by such a divide and draining into a river, river system, or other body of water.

watershed

1. A ridge of high land dividing two areas that are drained by different river systems. On one side of a watershed, rivers and streams flow in one direction; on the other side they flow in another direction. Also, the area drained by a water system.

By extension, a “watershed” is a critical point that serves as a dividing line: “The parties reached a watershed in the contract negotiations.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of watershed¹

First recorded in 1795–1805; water + shed ²

Example Sentences

The early-season storms will play an important role in priming watersheds for the rest of the winter, experts said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The spill site is far from major roadways, part of what officials described as a rugged stretch of watershed feeding into Sisar Creek.

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Darragh Mackin from Phoenix Law who acted on behalf of the father and daughter, said the decision was "a watershed moment for educational rights in this jurisdiction".

Read more on BBC

Alongside “Golden” and Rosé and Bruno Mars’ “Apt.,” this is a watershed moment for K-pop being taken as pop music like any other within the Recording Academy.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The Editorial Board speaks for free markets and free people, the principles, if you will, marked in the watershed year of 1776 by Thomas Jefferson's Declaration of Independence and Adam Smith's “Wealth of Nations.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

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