winterbourne

[ win-ter-bawrn, -bohrn, -boo rn ]

/ ˈwɪn tərˌbɔrn, -ˌboʊrn, -ˌbʊərn /

noun

a channel filled only at a time of excessive rainfall.

Nearby words

winter wren, winter's bark, winter's tale, the, winter-hardy, winterberry, winterbourne, wintercress, winterfeed, wintergreen, wintergreen barberry, wintergreen oil

Origin of winterbourne

before 950; Old English winterburna (not recorded in ME). See winter, burn²

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for winterbourne

Winterbourne fancied there was a tremor in her voice; he was touched, shocked, mortified by it.
Daisy Miller|Henry James
He poked his alpenstock, lance-fashion, into Winterbourne's bench and tried to crack the lump of sugar with his teeth.
Daisy Miller|Henry James
Winterbourne presently released the child, who departed, dragging his alpenstock along the path.
Daisy Miller|Henry James
"I should like very much to know your name," said Winterbourne.
Daisy Miller|Henry James

It seemed to Winterbourne that he had been in a manner presented.
Daisy Miller|Henry James

British Dictionary definitions for winterbourne

winterbourne

/ (ˈwɪntəˌbɔːn) /

noun

a stream flowing only after heavy rainfall, esp in winter

Word Origin for winterbourne

Old English winterburna; see winter, burn ²

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