a part of a river away from the main part, where the water only moves slowly (河流的)滞水,壅水,回水 - (often disapproving)
a place that is away from the places where most things happen, and is therefore not affected by events, progress, new ideas, etc. 与世隔绝的地区;落后地区 a sleepy/quiet/rural backwater 沉寂的/宁静的/乡下的落后地区 The region became more and more of an economic backwater. 这个地区变得越来越像一潭死水。