Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Backwater
Back′waˊter
,Noun.
[
Back
, a. or adv. + -water
. ] 1.
Water turned back in its course by an obstruction, an opposing current, or the flow of the tide, as in a sewer or river channel, or across a river bar.
2.
An accumulation of water overflowing the low lands, caused by an obstruction.
3.
Water thrown back by the turning of a waterwheel, or by the paddle wheels of a steamer.
Definition 2024
backwater
backwater
See also: back-water and back water
English
Alternative forms
Noun
backwater (plural backwaters)
- The water held back by a dam or other obstruction
- (idiomatic) A remote place; somewhere that remains unaffected by new events, progresses, ideas, etc.
- 1978, National Opera Association - The Opera Journal page 29
- It's a volume for those who delight in exploring the backwaters of nineteenth-century opera.
- 1979, Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
- Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the Western Spiral arm of the Galaxy lies a small unregarded yellow sun.
- 1978, National Opera Association - The Opera Journal page 29
- A rowing stroke in which the oar is pushed forward to stop the boat; see back water
Synonyms
- (small, backwards place): jerkwater town, one-horse town, Podunk
- See Wikisaurus:remote place
Translations
the water held back by a dam or other obstruction
a remote place; somewhere that remains unaffected by new events, progresses, ideas, etc.
a rowing stroke in which the oar is pushed forward to stop the boat
|
Verb
backwater (third-person singular simple present backwaters, present participle backwatering, simple past and past participle backwatered)
- To row or paddle a backwater stroke.
- (idiomatic) To vacillate on a long-held position.
Translations
To row or paddle a backwater stroke
|
to vacillate on a long-held position