WordGarden.iowatercourse
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /wˈɔːtəkˌɔːs/
US
Meanings
Noun
a natural channel of flowing water such as a river or stream
an artificial channel or drain for carrying water
Beyond the definition
A watercourse is not just any body of water; it is the path that water follows. It can be a river, a stream, a creek, or even a man-made ditch or canal. The idea is simple: it is the channel where water moves from one place to another. People often talk about watercourses when discussing land, farming, or flooding.
Some watercourses flow all year, while others appear only after heavy rain or during certain seasons. They are important for plants, animals, and people. A dry channel may look harmless, but it can fill quickly during a storm. If you picture a small stream winding through a forest or a narrow ditch carrying rainwater across a field, you already understand the basic meaning.
A watercourse is any natural or artificial channel through which water flows. The focus is not only on the water itself but also on the route it takes. That route may be a river, a stream, a creek, a canal, a drainage ditch, or a channel formed by rainwater. In everyday use, the word often suggests a visible line or passage that carries water across the land.
This is why the term appears in many different settings. In nature, a watercourse may cut through a valley, cross a field, or wind through a forest. Some flow steadily throughout the year, while others are seasonal and remain dry for long periods. Even a dry one can matter, because it may carry water suddenly after heavy rain and create a flood risk.
The word is also common in discussions about land use, farming, engineering, and environmental protection. People may need to know where a watercourse runs before building on land, dividing property, planning irrigation, or managing runoff. In legal writing, the exact path of a watercourse can matter because it may affect boundaries or water rights.
Historically, people have often settled near reliable watercourses because they provided water for drinking, farming, travel, and trade. Today they still shape both natural habitats and human activity. So when someone speaks of a watercourse, they usually mean the channel or route along which water moves, whether it is large and permanent or small, temporary, and easy to overlook.
Examples
- 1
Flooding
A narrow watercourse runs behind the village and floods after heavy rain.
- Usage
watercourse is a formal word for a stream, river, or channel that carries water
- 2
Hiking
We followed the watercourse up into the hills until the path disappeared.
- 3
Construction site
The builders were warned not to block any natural watercourses on the site.
See also
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- watercoursenoun
Forms
- watercoursespluralnoun