Rapids

Grand ___ Michigan

Rapids are sections of a river where the water flows swiftly over rocks or a steep gradient, creating turbulent, choppy conditions.

The word is almost always plural—a stretch of rapids, not a rapid.

Rapids are graded by difficulty for kayakers and rafters: We portaged around the Class IV rapids.

The term suggests danger or at least excitement.

whitewater

kayak

Enclosed single-person watercraft

canoeSlender paddled vessel
raftingTraveling on buoyant platform
paddleFlat-bladed water tool

chute · turbulence · current · gorge · portage · spray · eddy · hydraulic · standing wave · roar

geography

river

Large flowing watercourse

waterfallDescending river over precipice
canyonDeep river-cut gorge
narrowsConstricted water passage

cataract · Nile · Colorado · Congo · falls · bedrock · gradient · erosion · channel · outcrop

wildlife

salmon

Pink-fleshed migratory fish

spawningReleasing eggs to reproduce
migrationMovement to new territory
troutFreshwater game fish

upstream · leap · fish ladder · mayfly · heron · ecosystem · oxygen · habitat · dipper · otter

Categories

Rock Creek Park

Opposites

water flow speed and turbulence

Rapidsstill water

Water not flowing

slack water · pool · millpond · stagnant water · flat water

water dynamics and energy state

Rapidsstillness

Complete lack of motion

pond · lake · reservoir · lagoon · basin

navigational difficulty

Rapidsflatwater

Calm, currentless water

safe passage · open water

Phrases

rapid fireIn quick succession
rapid testsFast diagnostic kits
rapid responseFast action to emergencies
rapid transitUrban public rail system
rapid increaseSwift upward change
rapid growthFast increase in scale

Family

rapid, rapidly, rapidity, rapidness, rapidest, rapine

Familiarity: Top 1,000,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G