Bā'sin, n.
(bā'sn), n. [O. Fr., O. Sp., & Pr. bacin, N. Fr. bassin, It. bacino, L. Lat. bacchinus, from bacca, a water vessel. Cf. D. bak, trough, bowl, and Ger. beck, brook, orig. a cavity where the water flows. O. Eng. beck. See BAC.]
Sense 1. A hollow vessel or dish, to hold water for washing, and for various other uses.
Sense 2. Any hollow place containing water, as a pond, a dock for ships, a little bay. Pope.
Sense 3. A hollow vessel of different kinds used in the arts or manufactures, as that used by glass-grinders for forming concave glasses, by hatters in molding a hat into shape, &c.
Sense 4. (Geol.) An isolated or circumscribed formation, particularly where the strata dip inward, on all sides, toward the center;—especially applied to the coal formations, called coal-basins or coal-fields.
Sense 5. (Physical Geog.) (a.) A circular or oval valley, or depression of the surface, the lowest part of which is generally occupied by a lake, or traversed by a river. (b.) The entire tract of country drained by a river, or to a sea or lake.