The geographical area draining into a river or reservoir; SYN. catchment basin, drainage area, drainage basin.
In earth sciences, the area from which water is collected by a river and its tributaries. In the social sciences the term may be used to denote the area from which people travel to obtain a particular service or product, such as the area from which a school draws its pupils.
(Hydrographie) Stromgebiet, das gesamte von einem Fluß u. seinen Nebenflüssen ober- u. unterird. entwässerte Gebiet.
(Geographie) Einzugsbereich, Gebiet, das durch zentrale wirtsch. kulturelle u. andere Einrichtungen versorgt wird.