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water table
noun
1
: a stringcourse or similar member when projecting so as to throw off water
2
: the upper limit of the portion of the ground wholly saturated with water
Examples of water table in a Sentence
Heavy rainfall has caused the water table to rise.
Recent Examples on the Web
When excavating a massive pit, mining operations often hit groundwater, potentially exposing the area's water table (and local drinking water) to contamination.
—Kate S. Petersen, USA TODAY, 1 Dec. 2024
Weather-sensing timers and low-flow sprinkler heads save more than 50 percent of irrigation water compared to the previous system, and rainwater captured at the spa building is infiltrated back into the soil to help maintain the water table.
—Pat Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 20 Nov. 2024
Septic-to-sewer conversion is another big funding issue for the city, especially as the water table rises.
—Joshua "josh" Levy, Sun Sentinel, 9 Oct. 2024
Extreme drought can stress landscapes and water tables, regardless of whether a city is built on top of them or not.
—Paige Vega, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
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Word History
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of water table was
in the 15th century
Dictionary Entries Near water table
Cite this Entry
“Water table.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/water%20table. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
water table
noun
: the upper limit of the portion of the ground completely soaked with water
More from Merriam-Webster on water table
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about water table
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