Word
waterway
Phoneticswa·ter·way, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈwɔtɝˌweɪ/
UK/wˈɔːtəwˌeɪ/
Definitions
01navigable route
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a river, canal, or channel that is deep and wide enough for boats to travel through.
n. a body of water, such as a river, channel, or canal, that is navigable by vessels.
“The city built a new waterway to help large ships reach the port.”
“The government invested heavily in dredging the inland waterway to ensure that cargo barges could operate even during the dry season.”
02drainage conduit
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Technology Technical
n. a pipe or channel used to carry water away, especially on a ship's deck.
n. a conduit or watercourse designed to drain water, particularly one located along the edge of a ship's deck.
“The crew cleared the waterway on the deck to prevent rain from pooling.”
“Corrosion in the ship's peripheral waterway led to significant pooling on the main deck during the storm.”
Real-World Examples
“Many villages are located near waterways, while poor roads and a lack of bridges can make travel by land difficult.” “In many states, sewage water is treated – though not always in ways that remove or kill the oocysts – and then released into waterways and can be used to irrigate crops .” Etymology
From Middle English waterwey, from Old English wæterweġ (“waterway”), from Proto-West Germanic *watarweg, equivalent to water + way. Compare Saterland Frisian Woaterwai (“waterway”), West Frisian wetterwei (“waterway”), Dutch waterweg (“waterway”), German Wasserweg (“waterway”), Danish vandvej (“waterway”), Swedish vattenväg (“waterway”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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