Definition

Proper noun: 1. A major river in California, USA: The Sacramento River is a significant waterway in Northern California. It originates near Mount Shasta and flows generally southward until it empties into the San Francisco Bay.

Usage Notes

• As a proper noun, "Sacramento River" is always capitalized.
• It is used to refer to the specific river itself, its course, and the geographical region it defines.
• It is commonly preceded by the definite article "the" (e.g., ).

Examples of Usage

• Proper noun:
  • The Sacramento River is the longest river entirely within California.
  • Major cities like Sacramento are located along the Sacramento River.
  • Water from the Sacramento River is vital for the state's agriculture.

Advanced Usage

• "Sacramento River watershed/basin": Refers to the entire geographical area drained by the Sacramento River and its tributaries.
  • The health of the Sacramento River watershed affects millions of people.
• "Sacramento River Delta": Refers specifically to the large inland river delta and estuary formed as the river enters the San Francisco Bay.
  • The Sacramento River Delta is a complex ecosystem of waterways and islands.

Variants and Related Words

• Sacramento (Proper noun): The capital city of California, named after the river and situated at its confluence with the American River.
• Sacramento Valley (Proper noun): The extensive valley through which the northern part of the Sacramento River flows.

Synonyms

• Waterway, river. (Note: These are general terms. "Sacramento River" is the specific, proper name.)

Related Phrases

• "to fish in the Sacramento River": To engage in the activity of fishing within this specific river.
  • They went to fish in the Sacramento River for salmon.
• "the course of the Sacramento River": The path or route that the river follows from its source to its mouth.
  • The course of the Sacramento River has changed over centuries.

Noun

1. a river in northern California rising near Mount Shasta and flowing south to the San Francisco Bay