basin

/ˈbeɪsn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈbeɪsn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈbā-sᵊn/ (ame, mw)

basin — noun

1. a wide container with curved sides, used for water, food, or mixing.

1.名詞B1
釋義

a wide container with curved sides, used for water, food, or mixing.

例句

Rosa set a blue basin under the leaky pipe.

put a basin under something leaking

The baker mixed flour and eggs in a large metal basin.

mix something in a basin

同義詞
  • bowl

    broader everyday word, especially for eating or serving food

  • tub

    usually larger and deeper

  • washbowl

    more specific and less common

文法句型

fill a basin with something

wash something in a basin

mix something in a basin

用法筆記

Often used for a portable container in a kitchen, garden, or utility room. Distinguish from sense 2, which is the fixed bathroom fixture.

2. in British English, the fixed bowl under the taps in a bathroom.

2.名詞B1
釋義

in British English, the fixed bowl under the taps in a bathroom.

例句

Ella splashed cold water on her face at the basin.

wash at the basin

The child left toothpaste around the white basin again.

同義詞
  • washbasin

    full form, especially in British English

  • sink

    more usual in North American English

  • washbowl

    less common, especially in North American English

文法句型

wash at the basin

stand at the basin

basin tap

用法筆記

Mainly British. In North American English, sink is more usual for this bathroom fixture.

常見錯誤

The hotel room had two basins in the kitchen.
The hotel room had two sinks in the kitchen.
💡basin in this sense is mainly British and usually refers to the bathroom fixture.

3. all the land where rain and streams drain to one main body of water.

3.名詞C1
釋義

all the land where rain and streams drain to one main body of water.

例句

Heavy rain in the Yangtze Basin flooded towns far downstream.

capitalized in place names

Forest loss across the river basin changed the water level.

river basin collocation

同義詞

文法句型

river basin

the Amazon Basin

upper basin

用法筆記

Often follows the name of a river and may be capitalized in geographical names. It refers to the whole drainage region, not only the river channel.

常見錯誤

The Amazon Basin is just the Amazon River.
The Amazon Basin includes the land that drains into the Amazon.
💡basin here means the whole drainage area, not only the main river.

4. as much as fills one basin.

4.名詞B2
釋義

as much as fills one basin.

例句

The cook poured a basin of soup into small paper cups.

a basin of + food or liquid

We used half a basin of water to clean the paintbrushes.

half a basin of + noun

同義詞
  • bowlful

    more common in everyday English

  • portion

    broader and not tied to a particular container

  • serving

    used mainly for food

文法句型

a basin of something

half a basin of something

a full basin of something

用法筆記

Used as a measure word, not for the container itself. It usually appears with of after a number or quantity word.

常見錯誤

Put one basin on the table for everyone to eat.
Put one basin of rice on the table for everyone to eat.
💡this sense means the amount inside the basin, not the container.

5. a protected part of a harbor with calm water for mooring boats.

5.名詞C2
釋義

a protected part of a harbor with calm water for mooring boats.

例句

Small fishing boats were tied up in the inner basin.

inner basin collocation

The harbor master moved our yacht to a quieter basin.

move a yacht to a basin

同義詞
  • harbor

    broader word for the whole protected place for ships

  • marina

    mainly for pleasure boats and yacht services

  • dock

    often man-made and more focused on loading, repair, or enclosure

文法句型

inner basin

harbor basin

basin for boats

用法筆記

Usually refers to a protected section of a port or marina rather than the open sea.

6. a broad part of the land that lies lower than the ground around it.

6.名詞C2
釋義

a broad part of the land that lies lower than the ground around it.

例句

A broad basin lies between the two mountain ranges.

basin between mountain ranges

The village sits in a dry basin below the hills.

同義詞
  • depression

    more technical and often used in geography

  • hollow

    usually smaller and more everyday

  • valley

    often narrower and more strongly linked to a river between slopes

反義詞
  • ridge

    raised land rather than low land

文法句型

mountain basin

ocean basin

a basin between ranges

用法筆記

Common in geography and earth science for a broad low area. It is usually larger and flatter than an ordinary valley.