noun
- channels or passages that allow excess water to flow out of a dam, reservoir, or other water control structure
Usage: engineering; plural of spillway
Examples
- The dam’s spillways were opened to prevent flooding during the heavy rains.
- Engineers inspected the concrete spillways for cracks and damage.
- Water rushed through the spillways at tremendous speed.
- The reservoir has three main spillways to handle excess water.
- Emergency spillways activate automatically when water levels rise too high.
- The spillways diverted floodwater safely downstream.