channel - a deep and relatively narrow body of water (as in a river or a harbor or a strait linking two larger bodies) that allows the best passage for vessels; "the ship went aground in the channel"

body of water, water - the part of the earth's surface covered with water (such as a river or lake or ocean); "they invaded our territorial waters"; "they were sitting by the water's edge"

branch - a stream or river connected to a larger one

brook, creek - a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river); "the creek dried up every summer"

crossing, ford - a shallow area in a stream that can be forded

headstream - a stream that forms the source of a river

meander - a curve in a stream

midstream - the middle of a stream

river - a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek); "the river was navigable for 50 miles"

rill, rivulet, runnel, streamlet, run - a small stream

tidal river, tidal stream, tidewater river, tidewater stream - a stream in which the effects of the tide extend far upstream

canal - long and narrow strip of water made for boats or for irrigation

flume - watercourse that consists of an open artificial chute filled with water for power or for carrying logs

headrace - a waterway that feeds water to a mill or water wheel or turbine

tailrace - a watercourse that carries water away from a mill or water wheel or turbine

way - any artifact consisting of a road or path affording passage from one place to another; "he said he was looking for the way out"