| basin | 1. A hollow vessel or dish, to hold water for washing, and for various other uses. 2. The quantity contained in a basin. 3. A hollow vessel, of various forms and materials, used in the arts or manufactures, as that used by glass grinders for forming concave glasses, by hatters for molding a hat into shape, etc. 4. A hollow place containing water, as a pond, a dock for ships, a little bay. 5. <physics> A circular or oval valley, or depression of the surface of the ground, the lowest part of which is generally occupied by a lake, or traversed by a river. The entire tract of country drained by a river, or sloping towards a sea or lake. 6. <geology> An isolated or circumscribed formation, particularly where the strata dip inward, on all sides, toward a center; especially applied to the coal formations, called coal basins or coal fields. Origin: OF. Bacin, F. Bassin, LL. Bacchinus, fr. Bacca a water vessel, fr. L. Bacca berry, in allusion to the round shape; or perh. Fr. Celtic. Cf. Bac. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| basinasal | Relating to the basion and the nasion; denoting especially the basinasal length, or the shortest distance between the two points. (05 Mar 2000) |
| basinasal line | A line connecting the basion and the nasion. Synonym: nasobasilar line. (05 Mar 2000) |
| aeration basin | A basin where oxygen is supplied by mechanical agitation or pneumatic means to enhance the breakdown of wastes held in suspension. (05 Dec 1998) |
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| pus basin | A receptacle curved so as to fit closely the surface to which it is applied, used to receive the pus from a wound during its cleansing and redressing. (05 Mar 2000) |
| kidney basin | A shallow basin of curved, kidney-shaped design, used to collect body fluids or as a container for various other liquids. (05 Mar 2000) |