bodies of water
Lakes, seas, oceans
Bodies of water is a general term for any significant accumulation of water on Earth's surface—oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, ponds, streams, bays, and the like.
The phrase appears most often in geographic, environmental, or legal contexts: The property borders three bodies of water.
It's useful when you need a single term covering diverse water features.
Massive saltwater body
- seaSaltwater body, not ocean
- lakeEnclosed body of freshwater
- riverLarge flowing watercourse
- pondSmall still body
stream · creek · brook · lagoon · reservoir · bay · gulf · inlet
Enclosed body of freshwater
- pondSmall still body
- riverLarge flowing watercourse
- streamSteady continuous flow
- creekNarrow natural watercourse
reservoir · aquifer · groundwater · spring · well · glacial · inland · irrigation
Primitive aquatic photosynthesizers
- planktonDrifting marine microlife
- fishGilled aquatic vertebrate
- coralMarine skeletal formation
- seaweedSaltwater aquatic plants
krill · mollusk · crustacean · waterfowl · wetland · estuary · mangrove · ecosystem
Narrow strip connecting landmasses
- peninsulaLand almost encircled by water
- archipelagoChain of scattered islands
- capeShouldered sleeveless wrap
- bightCurved coastal indentation
firth · sound · seaway · coastline · shoreline · basin · watershed · catchment
Study of water bodies
- limnologyStudy of inland waters
- fluvialRelating to rivers
- evapotranspirationWater loss from land surfaces
- precipitationAtmospheric water deposit
infiltration · permeability · transpiration · sedimentation · erosion · streamflow · drainage · hydrology
ocean
Massive saltwater body
pond · stream · creek · brook · lagoon · reservoir · bay · gulf · inlet · cove
lake
Enclosed body of freshwater
creek · reservoir · aquifer · groundwater · spring · well · glacial · inland · irrigation · watershed
algae
Primitive aquatic photosynthesizers
seaweed · krill · mollusk · crustacean · waterfowl · wetland · estuary · mangrove · ecosystem · biodiversity
isthmus
Narrow strip connecting landmasses
- peninsulaLand almost encircled by water
- archipelagoChain of scattered islands
- capeShouldered sleeveless wrap
bight · firth · sound · seaway · coastline · shoreline · basin · watershed · catchment · floodplain
hydrography
Study of water bodies
- limnologyStudy of inland waters
- fluvialRelating to rivers
- evapotranspirationWater loss from land surfaces
precipitation · infiltration · permeability · transpiration · sedimentation · erosion · streamflow · drainage · hydrology
saltwater
Ocean water, chemically speaking
- brineWater saturated with sodium
- coral reefCalcium carbonate marine ecosystem
- tideOcean's cyclical swell
current · surf · wave · abyss · pelagic · deep sea · fathom · seafloor · trench · continental shelf
swimming
Locomotion through water
- fishingCatching aquatic creatures
- boatingWatercraft recreation
- kayakingNavigating slim watercraft seated
canoeing · sailing · diving · snorkeling · surfing · rafting · dock · pier · marina · beach
- entitiesentity, being, object, thing, item
- geographycontinents, continent, oceans, countries, country
- climateclimate change, climate, weather, global warming, temperature
- Jeopardy!Alex Trebek, Ken Jennings, Daily Double, Final Jeopardy, Double Jeopardy
bodies of waterland
Earth's solid surface
dry land · landmasses · terra firma · continents · solid ground
bodies of waterbuilt environment
Human-created physical surroundings
urban areas · cities · infrastructure · settlements · concrete jungle
water, watery, watered, watering, waters, bodies, waterless, wateriness, water's