Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A major North American river: The St. Lawrence River is a large river in northeastern North America. It connects the Great Lakes system to the Atlantic Ocean, flowing from Lake Ontario into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence.

Usage

• The St. Lawrence River is used as a geographical name to refer to this specific river. It is a proper noun and is typically preceded by the definite article "the."
• It is a singular, countable noun but functions as a unique entity, so it does not take a plural form.

Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The St. Lawrence River forms part of the international border between Canada and the United States.
  • Shipping traffic from the Great Lakes reaches the Atlantic via the St. Lawrence River.
  • We took a boat tour on the St. Lawrence River to see the whales.

Advanced Usage

• "the St. Lawrence": Often used as a shortened form to refer to the river, especially in contexts where "River" is implied.
  • The city is located on the banks of the St. Lawrence.
• "St. Lawrence Seaway": Refers to the system of locks, canals, and channels that make the river navigable for large vessels from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. (This is a related compound term, not the target word itself).
  • The St. Lawrence Seaway is a vital commercial waterway.

Variants and Related Words

• St. Lawrence Seaway (n): The system of locks, canals, and channels for ocean-going ships along the St. Lawrence River.
• Gulf of Saint Lawrence (n): The large gulf into which the St. Lawrence River flows.

Synonyms

• The River (when context is clear in the region): In local contexts, it may simply be called "the River."
  • They have a cottage on the River. (Implies the St. Lawrence River in that region)
• Waterway: A general term for a navigable route of travel by water.
  • It is a crucial North American waterway.

Related Phrases

• "to sail down the St. Lawrence": To travel on the river in a boat, typically toward its mouth.
  • They plan to sail down the St. Lawrence to the Gulf.
• "headwaters of the St. Lawrence": The source or beginning of the river (Lake Ontario).
  • Lake Ontario is considered the headwaters of the St. Lawrence.

Related Idioms

Noun

1. a North American river; flows into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and the North Atlantic