watershed
|wa/ter/shed|
🇺🇸
/ˈwɔːtərˌʃɛd/
🇬🇧
/ˈwɔːtəʃɛd/
divide or turning point
Etymology
'watershed' originates from the German word 'Wasserscheide', where 'Wasser' meant 'water' and 'scheide' meant 'divide'.
'Wasserscheide' transformed into the English word 'watershed' in the 19th century.
Initially, it meant 'a divide between two drainage basins', but over time it evolved to also mean 'a critical turning point'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an area or ridge of land that separates waters flowing to different rivers, basins, or seas.
The mountain range forms a natural watershed between the two rivers.
Synonyms
Noun 2
an event or period marking a turning point in a situation.
The invention of the internet was a watershed in communication technology.
Synonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:41