Definition

Noun: A seawall is a solid, man-made barrier, typically constructed from stone, concrete, or other durable materials. It is built along a coastline or shoreline and extends from the land out into the water. Its primary purpose is to protect the land behind it from erosion caused by waves, tides, and storm surges, thereby preventing beaches, cliffs, or coastal property from washing away.

Usage

The word seawall is used to describe a specific type of coastal defense infrastructure. It is a countable noun. - The city built a massive seawall to shield the harbor from hurricanes. - Without the seawall, this road would have been destroyed by the sea years ago. - Engineers are inspecting the seawall for damage after the storm.

Advanced Usage

• "to reinforce/fortify a seawall": To strengthen an existing seawall.
  • The government allocated funds to reinforce the aging seawall.
• "seawall construction/maintenance": Refers to the act of building or upkeep of a seawall.
  • Seawall maintenance is a continuous and costly necessity.

Variants and Related Words

• Breakwater (noun): A barrier built out into the sea to protect a harbor or coastline from the force of waves. While similar, a breakwater is often built parallel to the shore at a distance, whereas a seawall is usually built directly on the shoreline.
• Revetment (noun): A retaining wall or facing, often of stone or concrete, used to support an embankment or protect a shoreline; it can be similar to or part of a seawall.
• Bulkhead (noun): A retaining wall, especially one along a waterfront; the term is sometimes used interchangeably with seawall in certain contexts.
• Groyne (noun, chiefly British; groin in American English): A low wall or barrier built out from a beach into the sea to check erosion and drifting. Unlike a continuous seawall, groynes are usually built in a series, perpendicular to the shore.

Synonyms

• Bulwark (in the context of a defensive wall).
• Embankment (when referring to a wall of earth or stone to hold back water).
• Defense wall.
• Shore protection.

Related Phrases

• "behind the seawall": Describing the area protected by the structure.
  • The houses behind the seawall were safe from the flooding.
• "to breach a seawall": When a seawall is broken through or overtopped by water.
  • The tsunami's force was enough to breach the seawall.

Noun

1. a protective structure of stone or concrete; extends from shore into the water to prevent a beach from washing away