International Commission on Irrigation & Drainage Commission Interationale des Irrigation et du Drainage

Multilingual Technical Dictionary (MTD)
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Term No.Term NameTerm Description
948N-Year floodA flood which has a probability of being equalled or exceeded once every N-years or has one chance in N of occurring in any one year......
7954N-Year floodA flood that has a probability of being equalled or exceeded once in every N-years or has one chance in N of occuring in any one year......
6310NadirIn remote sensing, point on the ground vertically beneath the perspective centre of the camera lens......
397Nanoimg:equations//383_402_e.jpg.....
6853NanoplanktonFloating, microscopic plant and animal life......
9337NanoplanktonPhytoplankton whose lengths range from 10-50 µm......
2299NappeA sheet or curtain of water overflowing a weir, fall, etc. The nappe has an upper and a lower surface profile......
6524Narrow-base terraceA terrace similar to a broad-base terrace in all respects excepting the width of ridge and channel......
2309Narrow-crested inclined weirA weir formed by projecting an inclined wall (upstream or downstream) from the bed of the channel. Briefly, these are called `inclined weirs` (illustr.....
7003NatalityThe birth of offspring by a given animal population......
6613Native An animal or plant that is indigenous to a given locale. .....
5583Natural aggregatesNaturally occurring aggregates that do not require crushing; washing and/or screening for grading may be necessary before use......
5485Natural bed (stone)The surface of a stone whereon it was originally deposited, but not necessarily horizontal when resting in the quarry, the strata being often inclined.....
2544Natural blanketA cover of naturally occurring soil acting as a blanket. The natural blanket is generally less permeable......
5517Natural cementThe finely pulverized product resulting from the calcination of an argillaceous limestone at a temperature just sufficient to drive off the carbonic a.....
7866Natural disasterA serious disruption triggered by a natural hazard causing human, material, economic or environmental losses, which exceed the ability of those affect.....
7793Natural drainage layout A drainage system layout that follows natural depressions in the topography......
5126Natural drainage or Natural drainage capacityThe capacity of land to naturally remove excess water......
5050Natural drainage systemSystem of field drainage, passing through and connecting depressions......
5173Natural drainage systems, or Random drainage systemsDrains that follow the natural depression in the land, and converge like the frame of a tree (illustrated)......
6575Natural ecosystem Ecosystem that attains its development without appreciable interference by man and is subject to natural forces of modification and destruction. .....
6599Natural environment 1 - The atmospheric, geological and biological complex found in an area in the absence of artifacts or influences of a well-developed technological, h.....
6464Natural erosionWearing away of earth`s surface by water, ice or other natural agents under natural environmental conditions, undisturbed by man. Synonymous with `geo.....
7675Natural fertility The nutrient status of soil that allows it to support plant growth,  existing before any modification by humans......
4119Natural floodplainFloodplain undisturbed by human interference......
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The Multilingual Technical Dictionary (MTD) is an e-dictionary of all technical terms related to irrigation, drainage, flood management, environment, river training, and allied disciplines of the water sector. Any term/ definition can be printed/copied with the option to download/updates of terms from the ICID website. The MTD enriches the process of sharing and exchange of experiences and has proven to be highly useful for engineers, researchers, students, professionals, planners, designers, academics and all others related to the field of irrigation and drainage.  It is more helpful for professionals outside the water sector, in simplifying the technical jargon and to understand the sectoral nuances easily. 

As part of ICID's flagship activity, it was first published in English and French languages in 1967, the – 4th  edition of the MTD (English-French) was brought out on CD-ROM in the year 2002. Currently, we are following the 5th  edition released in 2009, which defines 9,370 technical terms in Chinese, Japanese and Russian, besides English and French. This online version of MTD is based on the 5th edition's DVD format. This version includes 9370 technical terms with matching English and French translation. The DVD version also includes terms collected in Chinese, Japanese and Russian languages with the active support received from respective National Committees. However, full integration with online versions has not taken place due to the difference in available translation editions/ versions. National Committees of Iran, China, Japan, Russia, Korea, and India are working on the translation/  updating part to match the present online version.