watercourse

noun wa·ter·course \ ˈwȯ-tər-ˌkȯrs , ˈwä- \

Updated on: 22 Apr 2018

Definition of watercourse

1 : a natural or artificial channel through which water flows

2 : a stream of water (such as a river, brook, or underground stream)

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Examples of watercourse in a Sentence

Pesticides are sometimes responsible for contamination of watercourses.
the Erie Canal was the first watercourse to connect the Hudson River with the Great Lakes

Recent Examples of watercourse from the Web

To spend much time along the route of any watercourse is to recognize the variety of objects either stuck along the banks, bobbing in a backwater, or flowing with the current.

— martin weil, Washington Post, "Half a dozen dockless bikes found in Rock Creek on Saturday," 18 Apr. 2018
He was involved in the Inland Wetlands Act of 1972, which put regulations in place regarding activities that affected Connecticut wetlands and watercourses.

— denise coffey, courant.com, "Mr. Conservation: John Hibbard Worked For Decades To Preserve Connecticut’s Farmland, Parks, Forests," 29 Mar. 2018
Follow the watercourse from the inland valleys all the way out to Jenner, where the river spills into the Pacific, for a crash course in wine country’s allure.

— Sunset, "How to Boat Camp the Russian River," 22 Jan. 2018
This pollutes watercourses and fills lakes with algal blooms, despite new requirements to fence streams off from livestock.

— The Economist, "BanyanWill New Zealand remain a green and pleasant land?," 21 Sep. 2017
The Town of East Hartford treats major watercourses and wetlands in town that are prime breeding areas for mosquitoes.

— Courant Community, "Community News For The East Hartford Edition," 22 May 2017
The Town of East Hartford treats major watercourses and wetlands in town that are prime breeding areas for mosquitoes.

— Courant Community, "Community News For The East Hartford Edition," 22 May 2017
The 4,000 square-foot main house's expansive grounds include a Zen garden sanctuary with Koi pond, waterfall and meandering watercourse.

— david caraccio, sacbee.com, "Sacramento’s hot real estate market gains attention," 26 May 2017
The Town of East Hartford treats major watercourses and wetlands in town that are prime breeding areas for mosquitoes.

— Courant Community, "Community News For The East Hartford Edition," 22 May 2017

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