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. 该地区越来越成为经济的死水。