# Weir

/ˈwiɹ/ (US) · /wˈiə/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/weir
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 2. fishing trap

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

an old-fashioned fence or trap placed in a river to catch fish.

For teachers: an enclosure or fence of stakes, brushwood, or netting set in a stream or channel for trapping fish.

- The villagers used a wooden weir to catch salmon as they swam upstream.
- Archaeologists discovered the remains of an ancient fishing weir, suggesting that the river had been a primary food source for centuries.

Teaching tip: This sense is mostly found in historical or archaeological contexts; modern speakers usually use 'trap' or 'net'.

## Examples

- Water flows smoothly over the stone weir.
- The local council repaired the ancient stone weir to prevent the river from drying up during the summer.
- Engineers monitored the weir closely during the spring thaw, ensuring that the increased volume of meltwater did not compromise the structural integrity of the riverbank.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.