basin
UK: ˈbeɪs(ə)n | US: ˈbeɪs(ə)n
n. a round, open container used for holding liquids or other substances
n. a natural depression in the earth's surface, often containing water
n. the area drained by a river and its tributaries
The word "basin" originates from Old French bacin, derived from Late Latin baccinum (a shallow vessel). The Latin term likely evolved from bacca (water container), though its deeper roots are uncertain. The morpheme bas reflects the broad, flat shape of such containers, while -in serves as a noun-forming suffix. Over time, "basin" (Middle English) expanded semantically to include natural geographic depressions, aligning with the concept of a "container" for water or land.
She filled the basin with warm water to wash her face.
The Amazon River basin spans several South American countries.
The geologist studied sediment layers in the dry basin.
A porcelain basin stood on the wooden stand in the corner.
The city lies within the drainage basin of the Colorado River.