noun - Fetch is the area of ocean or lake over which the wind blows in a constant direction, generating waves. Fetch is also a synonym for Fetch length which is the horizontal distance over which wave-generating winds blow.
Fetch is an important factor as wind waves develop. Waves increase in height when fetch increases. But there is a limit of 1,600K. Wave heights do not increase with increasing fetch beyond 1,000 miles.
Note that most lakes are so small that fetch considerations are unimportant. In contrast, larger lakes have shown that the height of the highest waves are related to the fetch.