irrigation

irrigation — noun

1. The use of pipes, channels, or spray systems to carry water to farmland so that

1.名詞B2
釋義

The use of pipes, channels, or spray systems to carry water to farmland so that crops are able to grow.

例句

The farmers built an irrigation system to bring river water to their rice fields.

collocation: irrigation system

Drip irrigation delivers water directly to plant roots and wastes far less than older methods.

compound noun: drip irrigation

同義詞
  • watering

    A more general, everyday term; 'watering' can refer to gardens or houseplants, while 'irrigation' specifically describes large-scale farmland watering.

  • flooding

    Refers to a specific type of irrigation where fields are deliberately covered with water; can also describe unwanted flooding, so context matters.

反義詞
  • drainage

    The removal of excess water from land, while irrigation adds water to it.

文法句型

irrigation + noun (system / channel / project)

adjective + irrigation (drip irrigation / flood irrigation)

用法筆記

Irrigation is an uncountable noun and cannot be used with 'a' or 'an'. It is often combined with another noun to describe a specific method or piece of equipment, e.g. irrigation canal, irrigation pump, irrigation schedule.

常見錯誤

❌an irrigation
✅irrigation
💡This is an uncountable noun, so it does not take the indefinite article 'a' or 'an'.
❌The irrigation of the fields are done.
✅The irrigation of the fields is done.
💡The subject is 'irrigation' (uncountable, singular), so the verb must be singular.

2. A medical technique that cleans a wound or internal cavity by passing sterile li

2.名詞C1
釋義

A medical technique that cleans a wound or internal cavity by passing sterile liquid or medicated fluid through it.

例句

The doctor used sterile saltwater irrigation to clean the deep cut on Elena's arm.

collocation: sterile saltwater irrigation

After surgery, a nurse performed wound irrigation twice a day to lower infection risk.

medical compound: wound irrigation

同義詞
  • flushing

    A more general, less formal term for washing out a cavity or tube; 'flushing' is also used for non-medical contexts (e.g. flushing a pipe).

  • lavage

    A formal medical synonym, often used for specific procedures such as gastric lavage or bronchial lavage; more technical than 'irrigation'.

文法句型

noun + irrigation (wound irrigation / eye irrigation)

irrigation + noun (irrigation solution / irrigation fluid)

用法筆記

In medical contexts, 'irrigation' is nearly always uncountable. It is frequently paired with a body part or a type of wound as a compound noun (e.g. nasal irrigation, joint irrigation). Sterile equipment and solutions are standard.

常見錯誤

❌The nurse did an irrigation on the patient.
✅The nurse performed irrigation on the patient's wound.
💡'Irrigation' does not take the article 'an'; use 'perform' or 'do' with the uncountable form.