watershed
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watershed
- /ˈwɔːtəʃɛd/ UK
- /ˈwɔtɚʃɛd/ US
Where it comes from
From water + shed as a calque of German Wasserscheide.
noun watersheds
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The topographical boundary dividing two adjacent catchment basins, such as a ridge or a crest.
After Lesjaverk (23 miles) the eastern end of Lesjaskogsvatn is reached. This lake has the distinction of being a watershed. From the east end flows the Lågen, the great river that runs down Gudbrandsdal to Lake Mjøsa, while from the west end the Rauma River emerges to flow down to the Romsdalfjord.
Similar: water parting, drainage divide, water divide, divide
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A region of land within which water flows down into a specified body, such as a river, lake, sea, or ocean; a drainage basin.
Similar: catchment basin, catchment, catchment area, drainage area, river basin, water basin
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A critical point marking a change in course or development.
watershed moment — watershed event — watershed ruling
Similar: turning point, crossroads
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The time of day after which material of a more adult nature (e.g., violence, swear words, or nudity) may be broadcast on television or radio, either one permitted by law or one contrived from convention (e.g. when children are not watching).
Similar: safe harbor
adjective
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Serving to mark a significant development, change in direction, etc.
Green's Dictionary of Slang is a watershed publication in the annals of slang lexicography, being, beyond doubt, the most comprehensive scholarly dictionary of slang ever published.
Similar: momentous, climacteric
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: water parting, divide, river, catchment, valley, pond, lagoon, creek, drainage, pool, hydrography, tank, waters, hydrographical, hydrographic, hinge
Translations
Every language
noun boundary between adjacent catchment basins
| Español | línea divisoria, parteaguas |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 分水嶺 /分水岭 fēnshuǐlǐng |
| Português | divisor de águas |
| Français | ligne de partage des eaux |
| Deutsch | Wasserscheide |
| Italiano | spartiacque |
| Ελληνικά | υδροκρίτης ydrokrítis |
| Română | cumpănă de ape |
| Русский | водоразде́л vodorazdél |
| עברית | קו פרשת המים |
noun critical point marking a change in course or development
| Español | momento decisivo, punto crucial, parteaguas, momento clave |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 分水嶺 /分水岭 fēnshuǐlǐng |
| Português | divisor de água |
| Français | tournant décisif |
| Deutsch | Wendepunkt, Zeitenwende |
| Русский | перело́мный моме́нт perelómnyj momént |
| עברית | קו פרשת המים |
noun time after which adult material may be broadcast
| Español | dos rombos |
|---|
Talk about this word "watershed." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/watershed. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. watershed. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/watershed "watershed." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/watershed.Cite this
@misc{watershed_2026,
title = {watershed},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/watershed},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
