In [tag:Australian English], a sink is a fixture for washing dishes (kitchen link), clothes (laundry sing, or for big ones, laundry tub), or buckets (cleaner's sink) while a basin is for washing hands (hand basin) or, in specialist situations, some other part of the body such as hair (haidresser's basin). Of course, in a domestic situation, hands will often be washed in a sink, but in a commercial kitchen or laundry, a hand basin will be provided for hand washing separate from the sinks. I know that north-american-english is more likely to use washbasin rather than basin or hand basin.

Kitchen Sink

Laundry Sink

Laundry Tub

Cleaner's Sink

Hand Basin

Hairdresser's Basin

In casual usage, a basin might be referred to as a sink or, less frequently, a sink as a basin, but most people will know they are not using the right word if it is pointed out to them. In technical usage, such as building, the terms would never be used interchangeably.

Does this distinction exist in other versions of English?

In australian-english, a sink is a fixture for washing dishes (kitchen sink), clothes (laundry sink, or for big ones, laundry tub), or buckets (cleaner's sink) while a basin is for washing hands (hand basin) or, in specialist situations, some other part of the body such as hair (haidresser's basin). 

Of course, in a domestic situation, hands will often be washed in a sink, but in a commercial kitchen or laundry, a hand basin will be provided for hand washing separate from the sinks. I know that north-american-english is more likely to use washbasin rather than basin or hand basin.

Kitchen Sink

Laundry Sink

Laundry Tub

Cleaner's Sink

Hand Basin

Hairdresser's Basin

In casual usage, a basin might be referred to as a sink or, less frequently, a sink as a basin, but most people will know they are not using the right word if it is pointed out to them. In technical usage, such as building, the terms would never be used interchangeably.

Does this distinction exist in other versions of English?

In australian-english, a sink is a fixture for washing dishes (kitchen link), clothes (laundry sing, or for big ones, laundry tub), or buckets (cleaner's sink) while a basin is for washing hands (hand basin) or, in specialist situations, some other part of the body such as hair (haidresser's basin). Of course, in a domestic situation, hands will often be washed in a sink, but in a commercial kitchen or laundry, a hand basin will be provided for hand washing separate from the sinks. I know that north-american-english is more likely to use washbasin rather than basin or hand basin.

Kitchen Sink

Laundry Sink

Laundry Tub

Cleaner's Sink

Hand Basin

Hairdresser's Basin

In casual usage, a basin might be referred to as a sink or, less frequently, a sink as a basin, but most people will know they are not using the right word if it is pointed out to them. In technical usage, such as building, the terms would never be used interchangeably.

Does this distinction exist in other versions of English?

In [tag:Australian English], a sink is a fixture for washing dishes (kitchen link), clothes (laundry sing, or for big ones, laundry tub), or buckets (cleaner's sink) while a basin is for washing hands (hand basin) or, in specialist situations, some other part of the body such as hair (haidresser's basin). Of course, in a domestic situation, hands will often be washed in a sink, but in a commercial kitchen or laundry, a hand basin will be provided for hand washing separate from the sinks. I know that north-american-english is more likely to use washbasin rather than basin or hand basin.

Kitchen Sink

Laundry Sink

Laundry Tub

Cleaner's Sink

Hand Basin

Hairdresser's Basin

In casual usage, a basin might be referred to as a sink or, less frequently, a sink as a basin, but most people will know they are not using the right word if it is pointed out to them. In technical usage, such as building, the terms would never be used interchangeably.

Does this distinction exist in other versions of English?