weir

noun

ˈwer

ˈwir

Synonyms of weir next

: a fence or enclosure set in a waterway for taking fish

: a dam in a stream or river to raise the water level or divert its flow

Examples of weir in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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.

Many of the state’s wildlife officials got their start working on a weir. —

Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 21 Sep. 2024 The city controls several weirs where water is diverted. —

Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2024 Since Helene hit the city, crews have worked throughout the island to clear storm drains and debris and manage weirs to increase storage capacity of storm water, the city said. —

Dalia Faheid, CNN, 6 Oct. 2024 This is a typical day on a salmon weir in southeast Alaska. —

Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 21 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for weir

Word History

Etymology

Middle English were, going back to Old English wer, going back to Germanic *wera- (whence Old Saxon wer, werr "fish trap, dam," Middle High German wer, Old Norse ver "fishing place"), derivative of an Indo-European verb stem *u̯er- "halt, check, avert," whence, from an iterative derivative *u̯or-ei̯e-, Germanic *warjan- (whence Old English werian "to ward off, protect," Old Saxon, "to hinder, prevent," Old High German weren, werren "to hinder, defend," Old Norse verja "to defend, guard," Gothic warjan "to hinder, forbid"); and, with other ablaut derivatives, Greek érymai, érysthai "to ward off, protect, save," Sanskrit vṛṇoti "(s/he) obstructs, prevents"

Note: See note at aperient.

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of weir was before the 12th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Weir.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/weir. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

weir

noun

ˈwa(ə)r

ˈwe(ə)r

ˈwi(ə)r

: a fence set in a stream to catch fish

: a dam in a stream to raise the water level or change the direction and course of its flow

Biographical Definition

Weir

biographical name

ˈwir

Robert Walter 1803–1889 American painter

Last Updated: 6 Nov 2024 - Updated example sentences

Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

paroxysm

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

weir

noun

Examples of weir in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near weir

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Biographical Definition

biographical name