watershed

[waw-ter-shed, wot-er-]

noun

1. Chiefly British.,  the ridge or crest line dividing two drainage areas; water parting; divide.

2. the region or area drained by a river, stream, etc.; drainage area.

3. Architecture.,  wash.

4. an important point of division or transition between two phases, conditions, etc..

   The treaty to ban war in space may prove to be one of history's great watersheds.

adjective

1. constituting a watershed.

   a watershed area; a watershed case.

watershed

/ ˈwɔːtəˌʃɛd /

noun

1. the dividing line between two adjacent river systems, such as a ridge

2. an important period or factor that serves as a dividing line

watershed

1. A continuous ridge of high ground forming a divide between two different drainage basins or river systems.

2. The region enclosed by such a divide and draining into a river, river system, or other body of water.

watershed

1. A ridge of high land dividing two areas that are drained by different river systems. On one side of a watershed, rivers and streams flow in one direction; on the other side they flow in another direction. Also, the area drained by a water system.

By extension, a “watershed” is a critical point that serves as a dividing line: “The parties reached a watershed in the contract negotiations.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of watershed¹

First recorded in 1795–1805; water + shed ²

Example Sentences

Computer animation’s watershed moment for feature films happened just 30 years ago with the debut of Pixar’s “Toy Story.”

From Los Angeles Times

The Foreign Press Association said the latest killings must serve as a "watershed moment" and urged international leaders to act.

From BBC

The US National Archives said the records it released ahead of the 70th anniversary of the African-American youth's killing were "watershed moment in American history".

From BBC

The Thais argued that the French cartographers had erred in moving the border away from the watershed, the agreed dividing line, putting the temple in Cambodia.

From BBC

The creek, the largest watershed between Salmon Creek and the Russian River, has needed help since before they purchased the ranch, they said.

From Los Angeles Times

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