reservoir

noun

res·er·voir | \ ˈre-zə-ˌvwär

, -zər-, -ˌvwȯr also -ˌvȯi

Definition of reservoir

1 : a place where something is kept in store: such as

a : an artificial lake where water is collected and kept in quantity for use

b : a part of an apparatus in which a liquid is held

c : supply, store a large reservoir of educated people

2 : an extra supply : reserve

3 : an organism in which a parasite that is pathogenic for some other species lives and multiplies usually without damaging its host

Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about reservoir

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of reservoir in a Sentence

The pen has a large ink reservoir. Colleges and universities provide reservoirs of talent for job recruiters. She found the reservoirs of energy she needed to finish the job.

Recent Examples on the Web

However, this had the side affect of letting Lake Oroville, the second-largest reservoir in California, rise to extraordinarily high levels. — David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "The Oroville Dam Almost Flooded Northern California. Now It's Working Again.," 3 Apr. 2019 Maybe a state could randomly add lithium to some of its reservoirs but not others, or, conversely, a high-lithium state could try removing it from the water. — Dylan Matthews, Vox, "How our drinking water could help prevent suicide," 24 Oct. 2018 Finally, put it back into your reservoir and lock it into place. — Lauren Smith, Good Housekeeping, "How to Clean Your Keurig Coffee Maker the Right Way," 12 July 2018 Heavy rains forced the state authorities to release excess water from dozens of reservoirs, causing floods downstream. — Fox News, "Heavy monsoon rains kill 44 in southern India, close airport," 15 Aug. 2018 Another situation, this one with real legal consequences and potential ramifications for a whole group of anglers, also occasionally crops up at boat ramps, mostly during summer and mostly on rivers and a handful of reservoirs. — Shannon Tompkins, Houston Chronicle, "Boat ramps a gateway to fun or frustration," 28 June 2018 Officials said the dam water and mud spewed out of the reservoir and submerged homes over a radius of nearly 2 kilometers (1.2 miles). — Tom Odula, USA TODAY, "Kenyan dam bursts, killing at least 38 people; many missing," 10 May 2018 The apartment, at 1060 Fifth Avenue, at 87th Street, was like a fantasy apartment — huge, with a view of the reservoir. — New York Times, "What New York Was Like in the Early ’80s — Hour by Hour," 22 Apr. 2018 At the top, enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding reservoir before heading back down for lunch in Guatapé, a town known for its cobblestone streets and brightly colored buildings. — Ariana Marsh, Condé Nast Traveler, "3 Days in Medellín, Colombia," 16 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'reservoir.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about reservoir

Dictionary Entries near reservoir

Statistics for reservoir

Last Updated

18 May 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for reservoir

The first known use of reservoir was in 1690

See more words from the same year

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for reservoir

reservoir

noun

English Language Learners Definition of reservoir

: a usually artificial lake that is used to store a large supply of water for use in people's homes, in businesses, etc.

: a place (such as a part of a machine) where a liquid is stored

: an extra supply of something

See the full definition for reservoir in the English Language Learners Dictionary

reservoir

noun

res·er·voir | \ ˈre-zər-ˌvwär

Kids Definition of reservoir

: a place where something (as water) is kept in store for future use

reservoir

noun

res·er·voir | \ ˈrez-ə(r)v-ˌwär

, -ə(r)v-ˌ(w)ȯr

Medical Definition of reservoir

1 : a space (as an enlargement of a vessel or the cavity of a glandular acinus) in which a body fluid is stored

2 : an organism in which a parasite that is pathogenic for some other species lives and multiplies without damaging its host also : a noneconomic organism within which a pathogen of economic or medical importance flourishes without regard to its pathogenicity for the reservoir rats are reservoirs of plague — compare carrier sense 1a