Reservoirs

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A significant body of water, typically formed by dams or natural formations, that is utilized for storing water for consumption, agriculture, or energy production
2. A key location where water is collected and stored, often for human use, irrigation, or generating electricity, whether natural or man-made
3. An area where water is held and kept in large quantities, often created by building a dam across a river

Etymology: "Reservoirs" is the plural of "reservoir," a noun for a man-made lake or tank that holds water for later use. The singular came into English from French, where "réservoir" originally meant a place where things were collected or stored, and was used both literally, for a storehouse, and figuratively, for a collection place. That French word comes from "réserver," meaning to keep back or set aside, so the core idea is simply something saved for later. The plural simply adds the usual "-s" to the English form, so each reservoir in a region shares the same story of stored supply.

Synonyms: storage, reservoir