watershed
gb/wˈɔtɚʃˌɛd/ us/wˈɔtɚʃˌɛd/
C1
English
fordulópont, vízválasztó, vízgyűjtő terület, vízgyűjtő, védett műsoridő vége
NOUN
C1
1
fordulópont
B2
vízválasztó
C1
Usage pattern:
a watershed in [something]; a watershed for [someone/something]; a watershed moment/event/year
The court ruling was a watershed for civil rights.
A bírósági döntés fordulópontot jelentett a polgári jogok történetében.
The financial crisis marked a watershed in the banking industry.
A pénzügyi válság fordulópontot jelentett a bankszektorban.
Many analysts described the election as a watershed moment in national politics.
Learner examples
The new law was a watershed for the country.
Az új törvény fordulópontot jelentett az ország számára.
For the company, 2020 was a watershed year.
A vállalat életében 2020 fordulópontot jelentő év volt.
Common mistake:
Do not confuse this figurative meaning with water; a “watershed moment” is a turning point, not a water-related event.
Meaning
Decisive turning point
Collocations
watershed moment
|watershed event
|watershed year
|watershed decision
|watershed election
|mark a watershed
|represent a watershed
|a watershed in history
|a watershed for the industry
Synonyms
turning point (the most direct and neutral synonym)
|
milestone (emphasizes an important stage, often in progress or achievement)
|
landmark (emphasizes historical or public significance)
|
pivotal moment (emphasizes crucial influence on what happens next)
Antonyms
continuation (suggests things go on without a major break or change)
|
status quo (the existing situation rather than a decisive change)
Themes
history
|politics
|business
|society
|change
Definition
a very important moment when things begin to change
An event, period, or development that marks an important change and divides what comes before from what comes after.
NOUN
C1
2
vízgyűjtő
C1
Usage pattern:
the [river/place] watershed; the watershed of [a river/lake]; in/within a watershed
Farmers in the watershed are working to reduce pollution in the river.
A vízgyűjtő területen élő gazdák azon dolgoznak, hogy csökkentsék a folyó szennyezését.
The project monitors rainfall across the entire Chesapeake Bay watershed.
A projekt a teljes Chesapeake-öböl vízgyűjtő területén figyeli a csapadékot.
Forests help keep the watershed healthy by slowing runoff.
Learner examples
Our town is in the same watershed as the river.
A városunk ugyanahhoz a vízgyűjtő területhez tartozik, mint ez a folyó.
Pollution in one part of a watershed can affect the whole river.
A vízgyűjtő terület egyik részének szennyezése az egész folyóra hatással lehet.
Common mistake:
In this sense, a watershed is the land area that drains water, not the water itself.
Meaning
River drainage area
Collocations
local watershed
|river watershed
|entire watershed
|watershed management
|watershed protection
|watershed restoration
|watershed health
|upstream watershed
|watershed boundary
|Chesapeake Bay watershed
Synonyms
drainage basin (technical and precise)
|
catchment (common in environmental contexts, especially in British English)
|
catchment area (emphasizes the area that collects water)
|
river basin (often used for a large river system)
Themes
geography
|environment
|water
|science
Definition
an area where all the water flows into the same river, lake, or sea
An area of land from which rain and streams drain into the same river, lake, or other body of water.
NOUN
C1
3
Usage pattern:
the watershed; before/after the watershed; the 9 p.m. watershed
The film cannot be shown before the watershed because of its language.
A filmet a nyelvezete miatt nem lehet a védett műsoridő vége előtt sugározni.
Broadcasters received complaints after airing violent scenes before the 9 p.m. watershed.
A műsorszolgáltatók panaszokat kaptak, miután 21 óra előtt erőszakos jeleneteket sugároztak.
After the watershed, the channel can include more adult material.
Learner examples
The show is on after the watershed.
A műsort a védett műsoridő után adják.
That film is not suitable before the watershed.
Az a film nem sugározható a védett műsoridő vége előtt.
Common mistake:
This sense is mainly British; it is not a general word for any deadline or cutoff time.
Meaning
TV adult-content cutoff
Collocations
before the watershed
|after the watershed
|the 9 p.m. watershed
|pre-watershed
|post-watershed
|television watershed
|broadcasting watershed
|watershed rules
Synonyms
cutoff time (more general and not limited to broadcasting)
|
broadcasting watershed (more explicit form of the same idea)
Themes
television
|media
|broadcasting
|parenting
|rules
Definition
the evening time after which TV shows for adults may be shown
In British and some other Englishes, the time in the evening after which television or radio programs considered unsuitable for children may be broadcast.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
4
vízválasztó
C1
Usage pattern:
a watershed between [river systems/areas]; along/on/across a watershed
The mountain range forms the watershed between two major river systems.
A hegylánc alkotja a vízválasztót a két nagy folyórendszer között.
Rain that falls east of the watershed flows toward the Atlantic.
A vízválasztótól keletre hulló csapadék az Atlanti-óceán felé folyik.
The trail follows the watershed for several miles.
Learner examples
The hills form a watershed between the two rivers.
A dombok vízválasztót alkotnak a két folyó között.
Water falls on different sides of the watershed and flows in different directions.
A csapadék a vízválasztó különböző oldalaira hullik, és különböző irányokba folyik.
Common mistake:
This sense means the dividing land, while another common sense means the whole area drained by a river.
Meaning
Land dividing drainage
Collocations
continental watershed
|major watershed
|mountain watershed
|form a watershed
|cross the watershed
|watershed line
|watershed boundary
|the watershed between two rivers
Synonyms
divide (shorter geographical term)
|
drainage divide (technical and precise)
|
water divide (less common but clear in geography)
Antonyms
confluence (a place where streams or rivers meet rather than separate)
Themes
geography
|landforms
|water
|science
Definition
high land that separates water flowing in different directions
A ridge, line, or area of high land that separates water flowing into different rivers, lakes, or seas.
Grammar
Dictionary form
watershed
IPA
GB/wˈɔtɚʃˌɛd/
US/wˈɔtɚʃˌɛd/
Syllables & stress
wa - ter - shed (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (wa)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: watershed
- Plural: watersheds
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.