Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Basin
Ba′sin
,Noun.
[OF.
bacin
, F. bassin
, LL. bacchinus
, fr. bacca
a water vessel, fr. L. bacca
berry, in allusion to the round shape; or perh. fr. Celtic. Cf. Bac
.] 1.
A hollow vessel or dish, to hold water for washing, and for various other uses.
2.
The quantity contained in a basin.
3.
A hollow vessel, of various forms and materials, used in the arts or manufactures, as that used by glass grinders for forming concave glasses, by hatters for molding a hat into shape, etc.
4.
A hollow place containing water, as a pond, a dock for ships, a little bay.
Pope
5.
(Physical Geog.)
(a)
A circular or oval valley, or depression of the surface of the ground, the lowest part of which is generally occupied by a lake, or traversed by a river.
(b)
The entire tract of country drained by a river, or sloping towards a sea or lake.
6.
(Geol.)
An isolated or circumscribed formation, particularly where the strata dip inward, on all sides, toward a center; – especially applied to the coal formations, called
coal basins
or coal fields
. Webster 1828 Edition
Basin
BA'SIN
,Noun.
1.
A hollow vessel or dish, to hold water for washing, and for various other uses.2.
In hydraulics, any reservoir of water.3.
That which resembles a basin in containing water, as a pond, a dock for ships, a hollow place for liquids, or an inclosed part of water, forming a broad space within a strait or narrow entrance; a little bay.4.
Among glass grinders, a concave piece of metal by which convex glasses are formed.5.
Among hatters, a large shell or case, usually of iron, placed over a furnace, in which the hat is molded into due shape.6.
In anatomy, a round cavity between the anterior ventricles of the brain.7.
The scale of a balance, when hollow and round.8.
In Jewish antiquities, the laver of the tabernacle.