SINCE 1828
irrigation
noun
ir·ri·ga·tion
| \ ˌir-ə-ˈgā-shən
\
\
Definition of irrigation
1
: the therapeutic flushing of a body part with a stream of liquid
2
: the watering of land by artificial means to foster plant growth
Examples of irrigation in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Out here, farmers in sarongs work in tiered rice paddies, whose packed-earth Subak system of irrigation is UNESCO protected. — Alex Postman, Condé Nast Traveler, "Finding the Bali You Came For," 16 Nov. 2018 It can be used for outdoor irrigation and cleaning, according to the Nano Membrane website. — Ryan D'agostino, Popular Mechanics, "How Does Bill Gates's Ingenious, Waterless, Life-Saving Toilet Work?," 6 Nov. 2018 Its vast network of canals, moats, embankments, and reservoirs developed over the next 600 years, helping distribute vital water resources for such uses as irrigation and to help control occasional flooding. — Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, "Collapse of ancient city’s water system may have led to its demise," 20 Oct. 2018 Thanks to some Pacific cold fronts and late summer monsoons, just enough rain bursts come through the region each year, providing the right amount of irrigation for grapes to grow. — Todd Plummer, Vogue, "Beyond Napa: 7 Emerging American Wine Regions to Visit Now," 29 Aug. 2018 Runoff wastes valuable irrigation and rainwater and can wash fertilizers, pesticides and soil downstream, which can harm fish and other wildlife. — Dawn Standke, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Tally up your garden’s earth friendliness," 12 July 2018 That proposal, currently in review, would allow irrigators to pay for and build infrastructure on federal land to draw additional irrigation water in dry years. — Evan Bush, The Seattle Times, "Here’s what the massive public-lands bill means for conservation, climate change in Washington state," 12 Feb. 2019 There were potholes and rattlesnakes to mind, as well as irrigation ditches. — Ella Riley-adams, Vogue, "I Ditched My Phone for a Montana Cattle Drive (and Finally Dealt With My Feelings)," 3 Oct. 2018 Program funding is limited, and participants must comply with requirements that include a simple landscape plan, plant coverage, mulch, rainwater capture and irrigation technology. — Pomerado News, "Water agencies increase incentives to replace turf," 13 July 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'irrigation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for irrigation
irrigation
noun
ir·ri·ga·tion
| \ ˌir-ə-ˈgā-shən
\
\
Kids Definition of irrigation
: an act or process of supplying with water or cleaning with a flow of liquid
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on irrigation
What made you want to look up irrigation? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Words from Greek and Latin Quiz
-
- Which of the following months comes from a Latin word for “ten”?
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Share irrigation
Resources for irrigation