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
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 basin stretches over eastern Montana, western North Dakota and South Dakota and the southern Canadian province of Saskatchewan.
—
Judith Kohler, The Denver Post, 7 Nov. 2024
The first large-scale venture by Oxy, costing $1.3 billon in the Permian basin of West Texas, is called Stratos.
—Ian Dexter Palmer, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024
Chevron has doubled its production in the basin in the last five years and is now returning records amounts of cash to shareholders.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune, 2 Nov. 2024
Around two dozen tropical storms and hurricanes have roamed the basin in December since the late 1800s.
—Mary Gilbert, CNN, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for basin 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Judith Kohler, The Denver Post, 7 Nov. 2024
The first large-scale venture by Oxy, costing $1.3 billon in the Permian basin of West Texas, is called Stratos.
—Ian Dexter Palmer, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024
Chevron has doubled its production in the basin in the last five years and is now returning records amounts of cash to shareholders.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune, 2 Nov. 2024
Around two dozen tropical storms and hurricanes have roamed the basin in December since the late 1800s.
—Mary Gilbert, CNN, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for basin
Dictionary Entries Near basin
Cite this Entry
“Basin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/basin. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share