1. An irrigation ditch or canal, especially one used in the southwestern United States and Spanish-speaking regions to distribute water from a river or stream to agricultural land.
Usage: Common in the American Southwest, particularly New Mexico, Arizona, and California; From Spanish, widely used in regional English

Examples

• The farmer opened the gate to the acequia to water his fields.
• In New Mexico, many acequias have been used for centuries to manage water resources.
• The acequia system was an important part of Spanish colonial agriculture in the Southwest.
• During the dry season, the acequia carried less water than usual.
• Local communities maintain the acequias together through a traditional system of shared responsibility.