backwater

Everyday

1. A part of a river where the water is still or slow, away from the main current, often behind a bend or a weir. tree →
2. A quiet place, such as a small town, where not much happens and new ideas arrive slowly. tree →

In the lessons

In The Wind in the Willows, Ratty and Mole row along the river and into quiet backwaters among the reeds and willows; one backwater leads to the weir where they meet the Piper at the Gates of Dawn and find little Portly. In geography, a backwater is calm, so mud settles and plants grow. In everyday talk, calling a town a backwater can be unkind, meaning it is dull or old-fashioned.

Examples

• Ratty steered the boat into a quiet backwater. tree →
• Water lilies grew in the still backwater. tree →
• Ducks dabbled in the backwater, away from the strong current. tree →
• My uncle says his village is a sleepy backwater. tree →
• The backwater was full of reeds and dragonflies. tree →
• They tied up the boat in a little backwater for lunch. tree →
• Fish rest in backwaters when the river is in flood. tree →

Note

Countable: a backwater. It is one word. Calling a place a backwater is a judgement, sometimes rude.