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

Multilingual Technical Dictionary (MTD)
<<    Browsing page 1 of 9    >>
Term No.Term NameTerm Description
1623O horizonIs an organic horizon formed or forming from an accumulation of organic material deposited on the surface, that is not saturated with water for more t.....
4979Oasis effectVertical energy transfer from air to the crop; effect of dry fallow surrounds on the microclimate of a relatively small acreage of land where an air m.....
5870ObeliskAn upright four-sided pillar, gradually tapering as it rises and terminating in a pyramid. It is ordinarily monolithic, used as a water diversion stru.....
8232Object codeMachine language code produced by a translator program, such as an assembler, interpreter, or compiler. Instructions in object code can be executed by.....
8233Object programmeThe machine-language programme that is the final output of a coding system......
8645Objective functionSome rule for assessing, in an objective numerical manner the performance of the systems, using one or more chosen criteria in order to enable a compa.....
9342Obligate SpeciesSpecies restricted to one particularly characteristic mode of life......
316Oblique perspective, or Three-point perspectivePerspective where all the principal lines are oblique......
8947Oblique photographPhotograph taken with a single-lens camera with the axis at an appreciable angle to the vertical, generally at 45o or more. A high oblique photograph .....
308Oblique projectionThe representation of objects on a single plane by means of their projections, the projecting lines making angles other than 90o with the plane. The o.....
298Oblique sectionsSections made at various obliquities or angles......
2307Oblique weir, or Skew weirA weir with its crest inclined to the direction of flow as seen in the plan (illustrated)......
27Observation errorThe difference between an observed value of a quantity and a value adapted as representing the ideal or true value of that quantity. Errors of observa.....
5132Observation wellA hole dug or augered into the ground for the purpose of observing fluctuations in the elevation of the groundwater table......
4187Observation well, Groundwater station, Monitor well, or Piezometer 1 - A non-pumping well used for observing the elevation of the water table or the piezometric surface. 2 - Well used to watch for some anticipated, bu.....
2786Obstruction weir type water sealA water seal provided by a low weir (subsidiary dam) constructed downstream of the body wall (dam) (illustrated)......
3802Occupation crossing, Access, AccommodationCrossing (bridge or culvert) that gives access between two portions of a farmer`s land. In Australia also called `access` or `accommodation`......
9136Occupier`s water rate, or Crop water rateWater rate charged on the area actually irrigated and which usually varies with the nature of crop or crops, the quantity of water normally required b.....
9343Ocean Conveyor BeltThe theoretical route by which water circulates around the entire global ocean, driven by wind and the thermohaline circulation......
7868Ocean floodingOverflow onto lowlands by salt water, due to tidal action, storm surge or tsunamis, i.e. seismic sea waves. Land forms subject to ocean flooding inclu.....
9344Ocean VentilationDownwelling of water from near the surface to the deep ocean. See also deepwater formation......
1295OceanicInhabiting the sea where it is deeper than 200 metres......
8494ODBCOpen DataBase Connectivity, a standard for accessing different database systems. There are interfaces for Visual Basic, Visual C++, SQL and the ODBC d.....
8234Off-line1 - Descriptive of a system and of the peripheral equipment or devices in a system in which the operation of peripheral equipment is not under the con.....
8495Office, Microsoft OfficeMicrosoft’s bundles of productivity tools. Different versions contain some or all of Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook, Microsoft.....
<<    Browsing page 1 of 9    >>

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.