rhine
rhine Lexical Profile
rhine Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A major European river that originates in the Swiss Alps, flows north through western Germany, and empties into the North Sea in the Netherlands.
British A large, open drainage ditch or watercourse, particularly used to manage water levels in low-lying areas.
"The farmer cleared the reeds from the rhine to prevent the adjacent fields from flooding during the winter rains."
Word Nuance & Usage
When capitalized as 'Rhine', the word refers to the major European river. When lowercase, it is a British regional term (especially in Somerset) for a large drainage ditch, often pronounced 'reen'.
• Rhymes for rhine
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The name of the river derives from Latin 'Rhenus' and Gaulish 'Renos', ultimately from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to flow'. The regional British term for a ditch originates from Old English 'ryne', meaning a watercourse or run.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.