Word · Frequency #14176
watershed
分水岭
a ridge of land that separates two adjacent river systems
- 1.
A critical point marking a change in course or development.
标志着进程或发展方向改变的关键点；转折点。
- 2.
a ridge of land that separates two adjacent river systems
分隔两个相邻河流系统的山脊
- 3.
the entire geographical area drained by a river and its tributaries; an area characterized by all runoff being conveyed to the same outlet
由一条河流及其支流排水的整个地理区域；所有径流汇入同一出口的区域
- 4.
an event marking a unique or important historical change of course or one on which important developments depend
标志着独特或重要历史变化的事件,或重要发展的依赖事件
标志着进程或发展方向改变的关键点；转折点。；分隔两个相邻河流系统的山脊；由一条河流及其支流排水的整个地理区域；所有径流汇入同一出口的区域；标志着独特或重要历史变化的事件,或重要发展的依赖事件；流域
In use
The hikers stopped at the watershed, where the land slopes down toward two different rivers.
This ancient trail follows the watershed for several miles, keeping to the highest ground.
The treaty defined the border along the watershed that separates the two river valleys.
the agreement was a watershed in the history of both nations
a watershed between A and B
此义指分隔两条河流的山脊，即“分水岭”。
The mountain range forms a watershed between the two river systems.
这条山脉构成了两条河流系统之间的分水岭。
the watershed of [a river]
此义指河流的汇水区域，即“流域”，与“分水岭”含义不同。
Connections
Collocations
- watershed management
- 流域管理
- Watershed management is essential for protecting clean water supplies.流域管理对于保护清洁水源至关重要。
- watershed area
- 流域地区
- Heavy rain can cause flooding across the entire watershed area.大雨可能导致整个流域地区发生洪灾。
- watershed protection
- 流域保护
- The new law encourages watershed protection programs.新法律鼓励流域保护项目。
- watershed restoration
- 流域恢复
- Community groups are working on watershed restoration.社区团体正在致力于流域恢复。
- watershed divide
- 分水岭
- A high watershed divide separates the two river systems.一道高高的分水岭将两条水系分开。
Idioms & figurative uses
Learner notes
Memory Tip
拆成 water（水）+ shed（分），想象水流在此分道扬镳——watershed 就是分水岭。
Context & Register
语域：neutral 常见场景：geography、environmental science、formal writing 该义项为地理学术语，通常用于地理教材、环境研究或正式书面语境；日常交谈中讨论地形、河流时也会使用，但整体偏正式。
Pronunciation & Spelling
这些词都以 /ɛd/ 结尾，与 watershed 末尾的 shed /ʃɛd/ 同韵；shed 和 watershed 的末音节完全相同。head、thread、dead 拼作 -ead，said 拼作 -aid，都读 /ɛd/，不要按拼写读成 /iːd/ 或 /eɪd/。注意 watershed 主重音在 wa-，所以这些词只与末尾音节同韵，不和整个词押韵。
Usage priority
Collins 词频等级为 1，建议结合例句记忆，而不是只背中文释义。
Learn the forms together
页面下方列出了常见词形变化。学习时注意它们在句子中的语法位置。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.