Origin: French suffix -oir
Reservoir has 5 different meanings across 1 category:
lake used to store water for community use
"The local reservoir provides clean drinking water to thousands of residents in the valley."
tank used for collecting and storing a liquid (as water or oil)
"The city relies on a large reservoir to store fresh drinking water during dry seasons."
A place where anything is kept in store
"The ancient aqueduct carried fresh water to a large reservoir that served as a vital store during dry seasons."
In plain English: A reservoir is an artificial lake created to store water for later use.
"The city draws its drinking water from a large reservoir in the mountains."
The word reservoir comes from the French réservoir, which originally meant a storehouse or collection place. It entered English via this same term, derived ultimately from the verb meaning "to reserve" or "keep."