drainage
drainage — noun
1. the network of pipes, channels, or ditches that carries rainwater and waste liqu
the network of pipes, channels, or ditches that carries rainwater and waste liquids away from buildings, roads, and other places to a treatment or release point.
The old drainage in the city centre cannot handle the sudden heavy storms we get.
drainage + handle [volume of water] — capacity failure
Eli fixed the drainage around his house after water seeped into the basement.
drainage around [location] — physical infrastructure
The airport spent millions improving its drainage after the runway flooded three times.
Factory drainage was sent to a treatment pond so it would not pollute the river.
A good drainage system keeps roads safe by stopping water from pooling on the surface.
- sewer system
specifically for waste water from buildings, usually underground
- drain network
emphasises the connected pipes rather than the overall system
- runoff management
more formal; focuses on controlling surface water rather than removing it
- waterlogging
the problem that occurs when drainage is absent or fails
文法句型
uncountable — never 'a drainage' or 'drainages'
often used as a noun modifier: drainage system, drainage pipe
用法筆記
As an uncountable noun, drainage cannot be used with 'a' or in the plural form. It refers either to the infrastructure itself or to the process of water flowing away. When talking about a single pipe, use 'drain' instead.
常見錯誤
2. the speed or ease with which water moves downward through soil or another materi
the speed or ease with which water moves downward through soil or another material, rather than staying on the surface or making the ground too wet.
Sandy soils usually have excellent drainage, so water never stays on the surface for long.
excellent/poor/good drainage — quality of soil
Xiu added sand and compost to improve the drainage of the clay in her garden.
improve the drainage — active intervention
The farmer tested each field's drainage before deciding where to plant rice and wheat.
Poor soil drainage can cause plant roots to rot if they stay wet too long.
Mert chose a raised garden bed because the drainage in that yard corner was poor.
- soil permeability
more technical; used in engineering and earth science contexts
- water infiltration
focuses on the downward movement into the soil rather than the overall ability
- waterlogging
the condition of soil that stays too wet because drainage is poor
- compaction
a cause of poor drainage, when soil is pressed too tight for water to pass through
文法句型
uncountable — often used with an adjective: good drainage / poor drainage / natural drainage
用法筆記
This sense is used almost exclusively with an adjective such as good, poor, excellent, or natural. It is most common in gardening, agriculture, and construction contexts. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 describes the built infrastructure (pipes, channels), whereas sense 2 describes a natural property of the soil itself.