flood control

American

noun

Civil Engineering.

the act or technique of controlling river flow with dams, dikes, artificial channels, etc., so as to minimize the occurrence of floods.

flood control British

noun

the technique or practice of preventing or controlling floods with dams, artificial channels, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of flood control

An Americanism dating back to 1925–30

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“Vegetation management in flood control channels is conducted to maintain flood protection capacity and protect public safety,” Dave Ahern, a spokesperson for the agency, said in an email.

From Los Angeles Times

The street looked like a river, and she could see cars and boats stacked up against a flood control gate.

From Literature

On Wednesday, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works warned Angelenos to stay well away from waterways such as flood control channels, rivers, and streams -- even after the rain stopped.

From Barron's

The loss of tidal waters may have forced Sumerian communities to respond with large-scale irrigation and flood control systems -- innovations that defined Sumer's golden age.

From Science Daily

One member attended the groundbreaking of a flood control project in their district.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023