different between watershed vs ecosystem

English

Etymology

From water +? shed, a calque of German Wasserscheide, a compound of Wasser (“water”) + scheiden (“to divide”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?w??t???d/
• (US) enPR: wô?t?rsh?d, IPA^(key): /?w?t???d/
• Hyphenation: wa?ter?shed

Noun

watershed (plural watersheds)

1. (hydrology, Britain, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand) The topographical boundary dividing two adjacent catchment basins, such as a ridge or a crest.
2. (hydrology, US, Canada) A region of land within which water flows down into a specified body, such as a river, lake, sea, or ocean; a drainage basin.
3. A critical point marking a change in course or development.
4. (Canada, Britain) The time after which material of more adult nature (violence, swear words, sex) may be broadcast on television or radio, either one laid down or one contrived (e.g. when children are not watching)

Synonyms

• (boundary between two adjacent catchment basins): water parting, drainage divide, water divide, divide
• (drainage basin): catchment basin, catchment, catchment area, drainage area, river basin, water basin
• (time after which adult material may be broadcast): safe harbor (US)
• (critical point marking a change in course or development): turning point

Derived terms

Translations

Adjective

watershed (not comparable)

1. Serving to mark a significant development, change in direction, etc.

Anagrams

• draw sheet, drawsheet

English

Etymology

From eco- +? system. Coined by English botanist Arthur Tansley in 1935 in a paper titled "The Use and Abuse of Vegetational Concepts" in the journal Ecology.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?i?k???s?st?m/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?iko??s?st?m/
• Hyphenation: eco?sys?tem

Noun

ecosystem (plural ecosystems)

1. A system formed by an ecological community and its environment that functions as a unit.
2. The interconnectedness of organisms (plants, animals, microbes) with each other and their environment.
3. (business, marketing) A set of interconnected products and services.

Hypernyms

• system

Translations

Further reading

• ecosystem on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

References