watercourse

Everyday

A watercourse is any channel that water flows along, like a river, stream, brook, ditch or canal. tree →

In the lessons

In geography lessons on rivers and the water cycle, watercourses carry rainwater to the sea; maps show them as blue lines. In safety and environment lessons, polluting a watercourse harms fish and is against the law. Phrases: «a natural watercourse», «along the watercourse», «pollution of watercourses».

Examples

• A small watercourse runs along the bottom of the field. tree →
• Farmers must not let chemicals get into watercourses. tree →
• The map shows every watercourse as a thin blue line. tree →
• Willows grow along the banks of the watercourse. tree →
• After heavy rain, the dry watercourse filled with water. tree →
• Australian creeks can be dry watercourses for much of the year. tree →

Note

One word. Countable. A rather formal or technical word used in geography, law and maps; everyday talk says «stream», «river», «creek» (US, Australia, New Zealand) or «burn» (Scotland).

In Jewish tradition

A stream or channel of water. Willows grow beside them, and they are a picture of fresh life.

Interpretation. The Proverbs verse is read to say God turns a king's heart as easily as a farmer turns water. Isaiah's streams are read as a sign of coming blessing.

Examples

• And they shall spring up among the grass, as willows by the watercourses. (Prophets ISA.44.4, JPS 1917) tree →
• The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD as the watercourses: He turneth it whithersoever He will. (Writings PRO.21.1, JPS 1917) tree →
• And there shall be upon every lofty mountain, and upon every high hill streams and watercourses, in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall. (Prophets ISA.30.25, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

One word. Countable. A rather formal or technical word used in geography, law and maps; everyday talk says «stream», «river», «creek» (US, Australia, New Zealand) or «burn» (Scotland).