| Noun | 1. | basin - a bowl-shaped vessel; usually used for holding food or liquids; "she mixed the dough in a large basin"bidet - a basin for washing genitals and anal area birdbath - an ornamental basin (usually in a garden) for birds to bathe in emesis basin - a basin used by bedridden patients for vomiting laver - (Old Testament) large basin used by a priest in an ancient Jewish temple to perform ritual ablutions vessel - an object used as a container (especially for liquids) | |
| 2. | basin - the quantity that a basin will hold; "a basinful of water" | |
| 3. | basin - a natural depression in the surface of the land often with a lake at the bottom of it; "the basin of the Great Salt Lake"cirque, corrie, cwm - a steep-walled semicircular basin in a mountain; may contain a lake saltpan - a shallow basin in a desert region; contains salt and gypsum that was deposited by an evaporated salt lake tidal basin - a basin that is full of water at high tide | |
| 4. |  basin - the entire geographical area drained by a river and its tributaries; "flood control in the Missouri basin" | |
| 5. | basin - a bathroom or lavatory sink that is permanently installed and connected to a water supply and drainpipe; where you wash your hands and face; "he ran some water in the basin and splashed it on his face"sink - plumbing fixture consisting of a water basin fixed to a wall or floor and having a drainpipe | |