basin

noun

ba·​sin ˈbā-sᵊn 

1

a

: an open usually circular vessel with sloping or curving sides used typically for holding water for washing

a new washstand and basin

b

chiefly British : a bowl used especially in cooking

c

: the quantity contained in a basin

spilled a basin of water on the floor

2

a

: a dock built in a harbor or a river that is noticeably affected by the tide

b

: an enclosed or partly enclosed water area

3

geography

a

: a large or small depression in the surface of the land or in the ocean floor

the relatively shallow basin of the Baltic Sea

b

: the entire tract of country drained by a river and its tributaries

flooding in the Amazon river basin

c

: a great depression in the surface of the lithosphere occupied by an ocean

4

geology : a broad area of the earth beneath which the strata (see stratum sense 2a) dip usually from the sides toward the center

basinal

ˈbā-sᵊn-əl 

adjective

basined

ˈbā-sᵊnd 

adjective

basinful

ˈbā-sᵊn-ˌfu̇l 

noun

Examples of basin in a Sentence

a basin of cold water

the drainage basin of a river

the Great Basin of the western U.S.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Indian monsoon failed, followed by late, torrential rains that triggered widespread flooding in the Ganges basin. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024

To spot tiny cracks, look for beads of water on the outside of the toilet bowl, especially near the tank or basin. —Rabekah Henderson, Southern Living, 5 Dec. 2024

Some have vertical walls, others look like saucers or shallow basins, and some naturally generate ponds by retaining water, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. —George Petras, USA TODAY, 4 Dec. 2024

The relatively new technology creates artificial waves in the four-acre basin, no ocean water needed; few cities throughout the world offer it, though the industry is growing rapidly. —Brooke Seipel, Fortune, 4 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French bacin, going back to Vulgar Latin *baccīnum (whence Hellenized Late Latin bacchinon "disk with two wooden dishes"), derivative from a base *bak- or *bakk- (whence Latin bacar, bacriō "kind of vessel," early Medieval Latin bacarium, baccarium, becario "pitcher, vessel"), of obscure origin

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing basin

• inter-basin
• slop basin
• sub-basin

Kids Definition

basin

noun

ba·​sin ˈbās-ᵊn 

1

a

: a wide usually round container with sloping or curving sides for holding liquids

b

: the amount that a basin holds

2

: a hollow area or enclosure containing water

especially : a partly enclosed water area for anchoring ships

3

a

: the land drained by a river and its branches

b

: a large or small hollow area in the surface of the land or in the ocean floor

c

: a great hollow area in the surface of the lithosphere filled by an ocean

4

: a broad area of the earth beneath which layers of sedimentary rock dip usually from the sides toward the center

Medical Definition

basin

noun

ba·​sin ˈbās-ᵊn 

1

: an open usually circular vessel with sloping or curving sides used typically for holding water for washing

2

: the quantity contained in a basin