Spillway

usgb/ˈspɪlweɪ/
noun

A path for excess water to flow over or through when a dam or river becomes too full.

During heavy rain, the spillway helped direct excess water away from the dam to prevent flooding.
Visual representation of "spillway" - A path for excess water to flow over or through when a dam or river becomes too full.

Often appears as...

  • dam spillway
  • spillway capacity

Usage tips

Technical

Definition 1 of 1
Visual representation of "spillway"
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Engineering Term

Spillway is often used in civil engineering when discussing water management structures.

Illustration for Engineering Term
Engineers inspected the dam's spillway to ensure it would handle the forecasted rain.
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Flood Prevention

The term can imply safety measures against potential floods due to overflow.

Illustration for Flood Prevention
Thanks to the spillway, the nearby village remained safe despite heavy rainfall.
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Overflow Management

Refers to the method by which excess water is diverted to prevent overflowing of dams or rivers.

Illustration for Overflow Management
After upgrading the spillway, the reservoir could handle much more water.
Visual representation of the word "Spillway"

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