forebay

noun

fore·​bay ˈfȯr-ˌbā How to pronounce forebay (audio)
: a reservoir or canal from which water is taken to run equipment (such as a waterwheel or turbine)

Examples of forebay in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Some environmentalists have urged the state to redesign the reservoir and erect large screens that would prevent fish from being drawn into the forebay, but state water officials say that wouldn’t solve the problems. Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2024 Water flows from the Delta through a series of gates into the shallow, 2-mile-wide forebay as a staging area for the pumps. Denis Cuff, The Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2017

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

Word History

First Known Use

1770, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of forebay was in 1770

Dictionary Entries Near forebay

Cite this Entry

“Forebay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forebay. Accessed 13 Oct. 2024.

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