basin

[ bey-suh n ]
/ ˈbeɪ sən /

noun

Origin of basin

1175–1225; Middle English bacin < Old French < Late Latin bac(c)īnum ( bacc(a) water vessel, back3 + -īnum -ine1); perhaps further related in Latin to beaker

OTHER WORDS FROM basin

Example sentences from the Web for basin

British Dictionary definitions for basin

basin
/ (ˈbeɪsən) /

noun

Word Origin for basin

C13: from Old French bacin, from Late Latin bacchīnon, from Vulgar Latin bacca (unattested) container for water; related to Latin bāca berry

Scientific definitions for basin

basin
[ bāsĭn ]

A region drained by a river and its tributaries.
A low-lying area on the Earth's surface in which thick layers of sediment have accumulated. Some basins are bowl-shaped while others are elongate. Basins form through tectonic processes, especially in fault-bordered intermontane areas or in areas where the Earth's crust has warped downwards. They are often a source of valuable oil.
An artificially enclosed area of a river or harbor designed so that the water level remains unaffected by tidal changes.