ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ noun
Etymology: probably translation of German wasserscheide
1. : water parting
2. : a region or area bounded peripherally by a water parting and draining ultimately to a particular watercourse or body of water : the catchment area or drainage basin from which the waters of a stream or stream system are drawn
3. : something (as a sloping contour or member) introduced into a structure primarily to shed or throw off water
a narrow watershed over a car window
4. : a crucial or dividing point, line, or factor
his achievement would rank as a watershed in recent European history — Newsweek
without crossing the watershed of war — H.L.Stimson
the watershed moments of history — C.H.Sykes