catchment area
nounUK /ˈkætʃmənt ˈeəriə/
US /ˈkætʃmənt ˈeriə/
A catchment area is the land around a place where water or people come from.
The school's catchment area includes several nearby neighborhoods.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. The area from which a school takes its students.
Children living outside the catchment area may not get a place at the school.
3. The land area that drains rainwater into a river or lake.
Pollution in the catchment area can harm the river downstream.
4. The area from which a hospital or business draws its users or customers.
The hospital serves a wide catchment area across the county.