basin

noun

ba·​sin ˈbā-sᵊn How to pronounce basin (audio)
1
a
: an open usually circular vessel with sloping or curving sides used typically for holding water for washing
a new washstand and basin
b
chiefly British : a bowl used especially in cooking
c
: the quantity contained in a basin
spilled a basin of water on the floor
2
a
: a dock built in a harbor or a river that is noticeably affected by the tide
b
: an enclosed or partly enclosed water area
3
geography
a
: a large or small depression in the surface of the land or in the ocean floor
the relatively shallow basin of the Baltic Sea
b
: the entire tract of country drained by a river and its tributaries
flooding in the Amazon river basin
c
: a great depression in the surface of the lithosphere occupied by an ocean
4
geology : a broad area of the earth beneath which the strata (see stratum sense 2a) dip usually from the sides toward the center
basinal adjective
basined adjective
basinful noun

Examples of basin in a Sentence

a basin of cold water the drainage basin of a river the Great Basin of the western U.S.
Recent Examples on the Web That pressure places Milton in some pretty rare air in terms of strongest hurricanes on record in the Atlantic basin. Marshall Shepherd, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024 Traditional methods Cork is made from the bark of the cork oak (Quercus suber) found in countries of the Mediterranean basin. Eleanor Pringle, Fortune Europe, 4 Oct. 2024 Africa will slam into Eurasia, sealing off the Mediterranean basin and raising a new Himalaya-like range across France, Italy, and Spain. Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 3 Oct. 2024 Also churning in the Atlantic basin is Hurricane Kirk as well as a tropical wave south of the Cabo Verde Islands. John Bacon, USA TODAY, 3 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for basin 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'basin.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French bacin, going back to Vulgar Latin *baccīnum (whence Hellenized Late Latin bacchinon "disk with two wooden dishes"), derivative from a base *bak- or *bakk- (whence Latin bacar, bacriō "kind of vessel," early Medieval Latin bacarium, baccarium, becario "pitcher, vessel"), of obscure origin

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of basin was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near basin

Cite this Entry

“Basin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/basin. Accessed 12 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

basin

noun
ba·​sin ˈbās-ᵊn How to pronounce basin (audio)
1
a
: a wide usually round container with sloping or curving sides for holding liquids
b
: the amount that a basin holds
2
: a hollow area or enclosure containing water
especially : a partly enclosed water area for anchoring ships
3
a
: the land drained by a river and its branches
b
: a large or small hollow area in the surface of the land or in the ocean floor
c
: a great hollow area in the surface of the lithosphere filled by an ocean
4
: a broad area of the earth beneath which layers of sedimentary rock dip usually from the sides toward the center

Medical Definition

basin

noun
ba·​sin ˈbās-ᵊn How to pronounce basin (audio)
1
: an open usually circular vessel with sloping or curving sides used typically for holding water for washing
2
: the quantity contained in a basin

More from Merriam-Webster on basin

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