backwater

noun

1. a place or condition in which no development or progress is occurring

e.g. the country is an economic backwater

2. a body of water that was created by a flood or tide or by being held or forced back by a dam

e.g. the bayous and backwaters are breeding grounds for mosquitos

1. 闭塞的地方；与世隔绝的地方
A backwater is a place that is isolated.

e.g. ...a quiet rural backwater.
僻静的乡村

2. 停滞（或落后）的地方；一潭死水
If you refer to a place or institution as a backwater, you think it is not developing properly because it is isolated from ideas and events in other places and institutions.

e.g. Britain could become a political backwater with no serious influence in the world...
英国有变成在世界上没有真正影响力的政治死水之虞。
e.g. This agency will be relegated to the backwaters of Washington...
这个机构将沦落为华盛顿闭塞落后之地。

1. 回水：为什么这明明是些小河小溪,当地人却不肯称其为河,偏偏要将它们称做回水(backwater)呢?原来,距这些河流不远处就是波涛汹涌的印度洋,河水与海水相距最近处不过十几米. 在小河与大洋之间的并不是横亘的山脉陡崖,通常不过是区区一两米高的沙丘.

2. 死水：然后卡拉拉(Kerala)的死水(backwater)是和泰姬陵齐名的世界50个必须要去的地方,而我们打算在租一条房船(houseboat)在这个著名的水域上度过一晚,尽情欣赏这热带美景,因此看点之二是究竟什么成就了卡拉拉死水之美.

3. backwater

3. 死水,死气沉沉的地方：Antichoice 反堕胎 | Backwater 死水,死气沉沉的地方 | Intercom 对讲机,闭路通讯装置

4. backwater

4. 循环水：backwater trap 回水存水弯 | backwater 循环水 | backway 后退距离