runoff
/ˈrʌnɒf/ · run·off
noun
- That portion of precipitation or irrigation on an area which does not infiltrate or evaporate, but instead is discharged from the area. The runoff from the heavy rainfall caused widespread flooding.
noun
- Dissolved chemicals, etc, included in such water. The runoff of nitrates is poisoning the lake.
noun
- A second or further round of an indecisive election, after other candidates (often all but the last two) have been eliminated. There will now be a runoff as neither front runner received more than 50% of the vote.
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Did you know? The term 'runoff' is often used in environmental science to describe the flow of pollutants from agricultural or urban areas into waterways.