watershed
UK/'wɒtәʃed/US
GREB2
Definitions
n.
An important turning point that marks a clear before and after
（重大的）转折点，分水岭
n.
A ridge of land separating two river systems; the area drained by a river
分水岭；流域
Root Breakdown
Native Englishwater + shed, where shed means 'to split off or let fall.' A watershed is the high ridge where water sheds to opposite sides, draining into different rivers. Because it is the line dividing everything into two directions, it became a metaphor for a turning point — the moment that splits a story into 'before' and 'after.'
Root water still carries 16 more wordsCommon Collocations
- 1.watershed moment转折点/分水岭时刻
- 2.watershed event划时代的事件
- 3.mark a watershed标志着转折点
- 4.river watershed河流流域
Example Sentences
- 1.
The invention of the smartphone was a watershed in modern life.
- 2.
1989 marked a watershed moment in European history.
- 3.
Pollution upstream affects the entire watershed.