First Known Use: 1690
Dictionary
reservoir
noun res·er·voir \ˈre-zə-ˌvwär, -zər-, -ˌvwȯr also -ˌvȯi\
: a usually artificial lake that is used to store a large supply of water for use in people's homes, in businesses, etc.
: a place (such as a part of a machine) where a liquid is stored
: an extra supply of something
Full Definition of RESERVOIR
1
2
: an extra supply : reserve
3
: an organism in which a parasite that is pathogenic for some other species lives and multiplies usually without damaging its host
See reservoir defined for English-language learners
See reservoir defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of RESERVOIR
French réservoir, from Middle French, from reserver
Other Ecology Terms
Rhymes with RESERVOIR
abattoir, acinar, air guitar, Aligarh, aide-mémoire, arctic char, au revoir, avatar, blazing star, bolivar, Bolívar, brittle star, bumper car, cabin car, cable car, café noir, Castlebar, cinnabar, coffee bar, color bar, command car, commissar, coplanar, Côte d'Ivoire, cultivar, deodar, dining car, double bar, double star, error bar, escolar, escritoire, evening star, exemplar, falling star, feather star, funny car, giant star, handlebar, insofar, isobar, Issachar, jacamar, jaguar, jaunting car, Kandahar, kilobar, Krasnodar, mason jar, megabar, megastar, millibar, minibar, minicar, Miramar, montagnard, morning star, motorcar, Mudejar, muscle car, Myanmar, neutron star, objet d'art, open bar, parlor car, pinot noir, Qiqihar, registrar, rent-a-car, repertoire, ricercar, rising star, salad bar, Salazar, samovar, scimitar, seminar, shooting star, Silver Star, simular, sleeping car, steak tartare, steel guitar, subahdar, superstar, tiki bar, torsion bar, touring car, tutelar, turbocar, Valdemar, VCR, Veadar, wrecking bar, wunderbar, X-ray star, Yourcenar, zamindar, Zanzibar
RESERVOIR Defined for Kids
reservoir
noun res·er·voir \ˈre-zər-ˌvwär\
Definition of RESERVOIR for Kids
: a place where something (as water) is kept in store for future use
Medical Dictionary
reservoir
noun res·er·voir \ˈrez-ə(r)v-ˌwär, -ə(r)v-ˌ(w)ȯr\
Medical Definition of RESERVOIR
1
: a space (as an enlargement of a vessel or the cavity of a glandular acinus) in which a body fluid is stored
2
: an organism in which a parasite that is pathogenic for some other species lives and multiplies without damaging its host; also : a noneconomic organism within which a pathogen of economic or medical importance flourishes without regard to its pathogenicity for the reservoir <rats are reservoirs of plague>—compare carrier 1a
Learn More About RESERVOIR
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: reservoir rockPrevious Word in the Dictionary: reservistAll Words Near: reservoir
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up reservoir? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).