floodplain
gb/flˈʌdplˌeɪn/ us/flˈʌdplˌeɪn/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
entity
1
Low land beside a river
Flat land near a river that may become covered with water when the river floods.
Usage pattern:
a floodplain; the floodplain of [a river]; on/in a floodplain
Common mistake:
Do not confuse a floodplain with a plain in general; a floodplain is specifically land near a river or stream that can flood.
Synonyms
flood plain (Alternative spelling with a space; same meaning.)
|
alluvial plain (More technical; emphasizes land formed by river-deposited sediment.)
|
low-lying land (Broader term; does not necessarily mean the land is beside a river or floods.)
Antonyms
upland (Higher ground away from low river areas.)
|
high ground (Land less likely to flood because it is elevated.)
Collocations
river floodplain
|coastal floodplain
|low-lying floodplain
|natural floodplain
|wide floodplain
|floodplain area
|floodplain development
|floodplain management
|floodplain mapping
|build on a floodplain
Themes
geography
|environment
|water
|landforms
|urban_planning
Examples
- The town was built on a floodplain, so heavy rain often causes problems.
- Farmers use the fertile floodplain along the river to grow vegetables.
- New housing on the floodplain may require special flood insurance.
Learner examples
- The river flooded the floodplain after days of rain.
- They should not build a school on the floodplain.
Grammar
Dictionary form
floodplain
IPA
GB/flˈʌdplˌeɪn/
US/flˈʌdplˌeɪn/
Syllables & stress
flood - plain (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (flood)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: floodplain
- Plural: floodplains
Expressions
100-year floodplain
1/wˈʌn hˈʌndɹɪd jˈɪɹ flˈʌdplˌeɪn/
fixed phrase
technical
Area with annual flood risk
Land that has a 1 in 100 chance of flooding in any year.
Examples
- The house is in the 100-year floodplain, so the lender required flood insurance.
- Officials updated the map and added several neighborhoods to the 100-year floodplain.
- A property can flood more than once within a few years even if it is labeled part of the 100-year floodplain.
floodplain management
1/flˈʌdplˌeɪn mˈænɪd͡ʒmənt/
fixed phrase
technical
Managing flood-prone land
Planning how land near rivers should be used so floods cause less damage.
Examples
- The county adopted stricter floodplain management rules after the storm.
- Good floodplain management can limit development in the most dangerous areas.
- Engineers, planners, and emergency officials worked together on a floodplain management plan.
floodplain mapping
1/flˈʌdplˌeɪn mˈæpɪŋ/
fixed phrase
technical
Mapping flood-risk areas
Making maps that show which areas are likely to flood.
Examples
- New floodplain mapping showed that the school was at greater risk than previously thought.
- Accurate floodplain mapping helps residents understand whether their homes need flood protection.
- The agency used satellite data and river models for floodplain mapping.
floodplain zoning
1/flˈʌdplˌeɪn zˈoʊnɪŋ/
fixed phrase
technical
Rules for flood-prone land
Rules about what people may build or do on land that can flood.
Examples
- Floodplain zoning prevents new homes from being built too close to the river.
- The city council debated changes to its floodplain zoning ordinance.
- Stronger floodplain zoning could save money after future storms.