noun
headwaters
HED-waw-terz/ˈhedwɔːtərz/
The streams or source area where a river begins.
The river's headwaters lie high in the snow-covered mountains.
Etymology
Head names a river's origin, so headwaters are the waters at its beginning—the streams or sources that feed it. The modern compound may be a re-formation of an earlier word.
In context
Headwaters the Alpine feeders that spring to life from rainfall and eventually wash down to form all our water courses
More examples
- Several springs feed the headwaters of this river.
- Protecting the headwaters helps keep the river clean downstream.
- We follow the river upstream toward its headwaters.
Forms
headwater · headwaters
Similar words
- source
- Can name one starting point rather than several streams.
- headstream
- Specifically one stream that forms the beginning of a river.