Drainage: Definition, Usage & Key Examples

Meaning 1：water removal system (drainage)

drainage 🔊

/ˈdreɪnɪdʒ/

The system of pipes or channels that carries away extra water from a place to keep it dry and safe.

Drainage system diagram showing rainwater flow into a grated storm drain on a paved road.

water removal system 🔊

➕

/ˈwɔːtər rɪˈmuːvəl ˈsɪstəm/

A water removal system refers to the infrastructure designed to channel excess water away from an area to prevent waterlogging and maintain safety.

📁 Category：Buildings & Places 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From the verb 'drain' (to draw off liquid) + the noun suffix '-age' (denoting an action or its result).

💡 Mnemonic

DRAINage helps RAIN-age go away. It's the system for liquid's out-AGE.

📖 Example

After the heavy rain, my neighbor checked if the drainage around his new garden was working properly. 🔊 After the heavy rain, my neighbor checked if the water removal system around his new garden was functioning correctly.

🔗 Collocations

drainage system – the complete network for removing water

poor drainage – ineffective removal of water

drainage ditch – a trench dug to carry away water

🔄 Synonyms

sewerage (n.) – the system of sewers for carrying away waste water and rain

drainage system (n.) – the entire infrastructure for water removal

storm drain (n.) – a drain for carrying off excess rainwater

🚫 Antonyms

flooding (n.) – an overflow of water onto land that is normally dry

🌱 Derivatives

drain (v.) – to draw off liquid gradually

📖 Cultural Story

The term originates from the practice of draining land for agriculture, evolving with urbanization to describe engineered systems like sewers, crucial for public health and urban planning in modern societies.