1. (noun)basin a bowl-shaped vessel; usually used for holdingfood or liquids "she mixed the dough in a large basin"
2. (noun)basin, basinful the quantity that a basin will hold "a basinful of water"
3. (noun)basin a natural depression in the surface of the land often with a lake at the bottom of it "the basin of the Great Salt Lake"
4. (noun)river basin, basin, watershed, drainage basin, catchment area, catchment basin, drainage area the entire geographical area drained by a river and its tributaries; an area characterized by all runoffbeing conveyed to the sameoutlet "flood control in the Missouri basin"
5. (noun)washbasin, basin, washbowl, washstand, lavatory a bathroomsink that is permanently installed and connected to a watersupply and drainpipe; where you can wash your hands and face "he ran some water in the basin and splashed it on his face"