Dictionary
Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.
watershed en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
- /ˈwɔtɚʃɛd/ (US)
- /ˈwɔːtəʃɛd/ (UK)
- wôʹtərshĕd (US)
Etymology
From water + shed. A calque of German Wasserscheide.
Meanings
-
(not-comparable) 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.
2018, James Lambert, “Anglo-Indian slang in dictionaries on historical principles”, in World Englishes, volume 37, page 251:
Synonyms
climacteric · momentous
watershed en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
- /ˈwɔtɚʃɛd/ (US)
- /ˈwɔːtəʃɛd/ (UK)
- wôʹtərshĕd (US)
Etymology
From water + shed. A calque of German Wasserscheide.
Meanings
-
(Australia, Ireland, New-Zealand, UK) 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.
1956 September, M. D. Greville, “Through the Romsdal by Rail”, in Railway Magazine, page 594:
-
(Canada, US) A region of land within which water flows down into a specified body, such as a river, lake, sea, or ocean; a drainage basin.
-
(figuratively) A critical point marking a change in course or development.
In the minds of many, 1847 was a watershed year during which Ceres, Pallas, Juno, Vesta, and Astraea were reclassified as asteroids.
2009 [2007], David A. Weintraub, Is Pluto a Planet?: A Historical Journey through the Solar System, Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, →ISBN, page 115:In a 2,000-word blog post published ahead of the press event, Brad Smith, Microsoft’s president, called this a “watershed year” and acknowledged the potential downsides, calling for “wide-ranging and deep conversations” on the issues.
2023 February 7, Cade Metz, Karen Weise, “Microsoft Throws a Coming-Out Party for A.I.”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:watershed moment — watershed event — watershed ruling
Coronavirus has been a watershed for the railways. It has accelerated the decline of season tickets and reduced business travel after years of steadily rising passenger numbers.
2021 November 17, Anthony Lambert, “How do we grow the leisure market?”, in RAIL, number 944, page 34:
-
(Canada, UK) 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).
Forms
Deriveds
milkshed · megashed · walkshed · foodshed · subwatershed · cultureshed · problemshed · bikeshed · viewshed · fibershed · air shed · watershedding · driveshed · laborshed
Synonyms
crossroads · catchment · turning point · water divide · divide · catchment basin · safe harbor · drainage area · catchment area · water basin · river basin · drainage divide · water parting
Translations (64)
pt divisor de água (critical point marking a change in course or development) · mk во́додел (boundary between adjacent catchment basins) · fr tournant décisif (critical point marking a change in course or development) · nb veiskille (critical point marking a change in course or development) · cmn 分水嶺 /分水岭 (boundary between adjacent catchment basins) · es dos rombos (time after which adult material may be broadcast) · nn vasskilje (boundary between adjacent catchment basins) · ro cumpănă de ape (boundary between adjacent catchment basins) · es momento clave (critical point marking a change in course or development) · es parteaguas (critical point marking a change in course or development) · be вададзе́л (boundary between adjacent catchment basins) · de Wasserscheide (boundary between adjacent catchment basins) · es punto crucial (critical point marking a change in course or development) · pt divisor de águas (boundary between adjacent catchment basins) · gl divisoria de augas (boundary between adjacent catchment basins) · es parteaguas (boundary between adjacent catchment basins) · uk вододі́л (boundary between adjacent catchment basins) · he קו פרשת המים (boundary between adjacent catchment basins) · nl keerpunt (critical point marking a change in course or development) · de Zeitenwende (critical point marking a change in course or development) · sv vägskäl (critical point marking a change in course or development) · fi vedenjakaja (critical point marking a change in course or development) · nb vannskille (critical point marking a change in course or development) · el υδροκρίτης (boundary between adjacent catchment basins) · bg вододел (boundary between adjacent catchment basins) · gl punto de inflexión (critical point marking a change in course or development) · ms legeh (boundary between adjacent catchment basins) · nb vannskille (boundary between adjacent catchment basins) · sv vattendelare (critical point marking a change in course or development) · mk вододе́лница (boundary between adjacent catchment basins) · ca punt decisiu (critical point marking a change in course or development) · hu vízválasztó (critical point marking a change in course or development) · pl wododział (boundary between adjacent catchment basins) · sk rozvodie (boundary between adjacent catchment basins) · it spartiacque (boundary between adjacent catchment basins) · pl przełom (critical point marking a change in course or development) · eo akvodislimo (boundary between adjacent catchment basins) · kk суайрық (boundary between adjacent catchment basins) · ru перело́мный моме́нт (critical point marking a change in course or development) · ca partió d'aigües (boundary between adjacent catchment basins) · ka წყალგასაყარი (boundary between adjacent catchment basins) · pl dział wód (boundary between adjacent catchment basins) · es línea divisoria (boundary between adjacent catchment basins) · sv skiljeväg (critical point marking a change in course or development) · da vendepunkt (critical point marking a change in course or development) · bg повратна точка (critical point marking a change in course or development) · sv vattendelare (boundary between adjacent catchment basins) · cmn 分水嶺 /分水岭 (critical point marking a change in course or development) · nl waterscheiding (boundary between adjacent catchment basins) · mk во́доврат (boundary between adjacent catchment basins) · cs rozvodí (boundary between adjacent catchment basins) · is vatnaskil (boundary between adjacent catchment basins) · ru водоразде́л (boundary between adjacent catchment basins) · fi vedenjakaja (boundary between adjacent catchment basins) · es momento decisivo (critical point marking a change in course or development) · fr ligne de partage des eaux (boundary between adjacent catchment basins) · de Wendepunkt (critical point marking a change in course or development) · he קו פרשת המים (critical point marking a change in course or development) · pl dział wodny (boundary between adjacent catchment basins) · be вадападзе́л (boundary between adjacent catchment basins) · da vanddeler (boundary between adjacent catchment basins) · pl godzina graniczna (time after which adult material may be broadcast) · ka წყალგამყოფი (boundary between adjacent catchment basins) · nb vendepunkt (critical point marking a change in course or development)