reservoir
B2Formal/Neutral
Definition
Meaning
a large natural or artificial lake used as a source of water supply
a large store or supply of something, especially something valuable or useful
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Originally and primarily refers to a physical water storage facility; extended meaning of "a store of something" is common in academic and figurative contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage.
Connotations
In both varieties, the extended meaning carries connotations of abundance, hidden potential, and careful accumulation.
Frequency
Slightly more common in American English in technical/engineering contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The [reservoir] of [something abstract]A [reservoir] for [something][Verb] a reservoirVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A reservoir of talent/knowledge/goodwill”
- “Tap into a reservoir of...”
- “Draw from a deep reservoir of...”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The company has a deep reservoir of financial resources to weather the economic downturn.
Academic
The study aimed to identify potential reservoir species for the virus.
Everyday
We went for a walk around the local reservoir last Sunday.
Technical
Engineers are monitoring the pressure in the geothermal reservoir.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The Thames Water reservoir supplies much of London.
- She possesses a remarkable reservoir of calm in a crisis.
American English
- The Hoover Dam created one of the largest reservoirs in the country.
- The community showed a vast reservoir of support for the family.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- There are fish in the reservoir.
- The town gets its water from a big reservoir.
- After the heavy rains, the reservoir was almost full.
- The library is a reservoir of historical information.
- The new dam will create a reservoir capable of supplying the region for decades.
- The veteran teacher was a reservoir of practical classroom strategies.
- Aquifers act as natural underground reservoirs, filtering and storing rainwater.
- The novel taps into a deep reservoir of cultural memory and myth.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a REserve of water StORed - ReSERvoir.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE/RESOURCES ARE WATER IN A CONTAINER (e.g., 'a reservoir of information').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'резерв' (reserve) in all contexts. 'Reservoir' is specifically a storage *place* or *container* for a liquid or, figuratively, an abstract thing.
- The figurative use ('a reservoir of patience') is common and should not be translated literally as 'водохранилище'.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'resevoir' or 'reservior'.
- Using it to mean any kind of 'reserve' (e.g., 'financial reserves', not 'financial reservoirs').
- Incorrect preposition: 'reservoir for knowledge' (better: 'reservoir of knowledge').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'reservoir' LEAST likely to be used correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While its primary meaning is a water store, it is commonly used figuratively for any large, accumulated supply (e.g., a reservoir of knowledge, talent, or oil).
A lake is a natural body of water. A reservoir is specifically created, typically by damming a river, to store water for human use (irrigation, drinking water, hydroelectric power).
No, 'reservoir' is solely a noun. The related verb is 'to reserve'.
The stress is on the first syllable: REZ-er-vwar. The final 'r' is pronounced in American English but often silent in non-rhotic British accents.