1. underground channels or tunnels used to transport water from highland sources to arid lowland areas, especially in Middle Eastern and Central Asian regions
Usage: technical; plural form of qanat

Examples

• Ancient qanats provided water to desert cities for thousands of years.
• The Persian qanats were engineering marvels that made agriculture possible in dry regions.
• Many traditional qanats in Iran are still functioning today.
• The construction of qanats required skilled workers who could dig underground tunnels.
• Qanats allowed civilizations to flourish in otherwise uninhabitable desert areas.
• The qanat system spread from Persia to other parts of the Middle East and North Africa.