water
n
1 a clear colourless tasteless odourless liquid that is essential for plant and animal life and constitutes, in impure form, rain, oceans, rivers, lakes, etc. It is a neutral substance, an effective solvent for many compounds, and is used as a standard for many physical properties. Formula: H2O
Related adj →
aqueous
Related combining forms →
hydro- →
aqua-
a any body or area of this liquid, such as a sea, lake, river, etc.
b (as modifier)
water sports, water transport, a water plant Related adj →
aquatic
3 the surface of such a body or area
fish swam below the water
4 any form or variety of this liquid, such as rain
5 See →
high water →
low water
6 any of various solutions of chemical substances in water
lithia water, ammonia water
a any fluid secreted from the body, such as sweat, urine, or tears
b usually pl the amniotic fluid surrounding a fetus in the womb
8 a wavy lustrous finish on some fabrics, esp. silk
9 Archaic the degree of brilliance in a diamond
See also →
first water
10 excellence, quality, or degree (in the phrase of the first water)
a capital stock issued without a corresponding increase in paid-up capital, so that the book value of the company's capital is not fully represented by assets or earning power
b the fictitious or unrealistic asset entries that reflect such inflated book value of capital
12 modifier (Astrology) of or relating to the three signs of the zodiac Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces
Compare →
air →
19 →
earth →
10 →
fire →
24
13 ♦
above the water
Informal out of trouble or difficulty, esp. financial trouble
14 ♦
hold water to prove credible, logical, or consistent
the alibi did not hold water
15 ♦
in deep water in trouble or difficulty
b (of a boat, hull, etc.) to let in water
17 ♦
pass water to urinate
18 ♦
test the water See →
test 1 →
5
19 ♦
throw (or pour) cold water on
Informal to be unenthusiastic about or discourage
20 ♦
water under the bridge events that are past and done with
vb
21 tr to sprinkle, moisten, or soak with water
22 tr; often foll by: down to weaken by the addition of water
23 intr (of the eyes) to fill with tears
24 intr (of the mouth) to salivate, esp. in anticipation of food (esp. in the phrase make one's mouth water)
25 tr to irrigate or provide with water
to water the land, he watered the cattle
27 intr (of a ship, etc.) to take in a supply of water
28 tr (Finance) to raise the par value of (issued capital stock) without a corresponding increase in the real value of assets
29 tr to produce a wavy lustrous finish on (fabrics, esp. silk),
(See also)
→
water down (Old English wæter, of Germanic origin; compare Old Saxon watar, Old High German wazzar, Gothic wato, Old Slavonic voda; related to Greek hudor) ♦
waterer n ♦
waterish adj ♦
waterless adj ♦
water-like adj
barley water
n a drink made from an infusion of barley, usually flavoured with lemon or orange
boiling-water reactor
n a nuclear reactor using water as coolant and moderator, steam being produced in the reactor itself: enriched uranium oxide cased in zirconium is the fuel, (Abbrev.)
BWR
Chinese water deer
n a small Chinese or Korean deer, Hydropotes inermis, having tusks and no antlers: introduced into England and France
Chinese water torture
n a form of torture in which water is made to drip onto a victim's forehead to drive him insane
conductivity water
n water that has a conductivity of less than 0.043x10--6 S cm--1
Coniston Water
n a lake in NW England, in Cumbria: scene of the establishment of world water speed records by Sir Malcolm Campbell (1939) and his son Donald Campbell (1959). Length: 8 km (5 miles)
Crummock Water
n a lake in NW England, in Cumbria in the Lake District. Length: 4 km (2.5 miles)
drinking water
n water reserved or suitable for drinking
Ennerdale Water
n a lake in NW England, in Cumbria in the Lake District. Length: 4 km (2.5 miles)
first water
n
1 the finest quality of diamond or other precious stone
2 the highest grade or best quality
3 the most extreme kind
a fool of the first water
grey water
n water that has been used for one purpose but can be used again without repurification, e.g. bath water, which can be used to water plants
gripe water
n (Brit) a solution given to infants to relieve colic
ground water
n underground water that has come mainly from the seepage of surface water and is held in the soil and in pervious rocks
Hawes Water
n a lake in NW England, in the Lake District: provides part of Manchester's water supply; extended by damming from 4 km (2.5 miles) to 6 km (4 miles)
heavy water
n water that has been electrolytically decomposed to enrich it in the deuterium isotope in the form HDO or D2O
heavy-water reactor
n a nuclear reactor that uses heavy water as moderator
high water
n
1 another name for →
high tide →
1
2 the state of any stretch of water at its highest level, as during a flood, (Abbrev.)
HW
high-water mark
n
a the level reached by sea water at high tide or by other stretches of water in flood
b the mark indicating this level
holy water
n water that has been blessed by a priest for use in symbolic rituals of purification
hot-water bottle
n a receptacle, now usually made of rubber, designed to be filled with hot water, used for warming a bed or parts of the body
ice water
n
2 (Also called)
iced water drinking water cooled by refrigeration or the addition of ice
Irish water spaniel
n a breed of dog used to hunt duck and having a dense coat of a purplish-liver colour that falls in tight ringlets covering the whole body except for the face and tail
Javel water , Javelle water
n
1 an aqueous solution containing sodium hypochlorite and some sodium chloride, used as a bleach and disinfectant
2 (Also called)
eau de Javelle a similar solution made from potassium carbonate and chlorine
(C19: partial translation of French eau de Javel, from Javel, formerly a town, now part of Paris)
lavender water
n a perfume made of essential oils of lavender and alcohol
light water
n a name for water (H2O), as distinct from heavy water
lithia water
n a natural or artificial mineral water that contains lithium salts
lolly water
n (Austral. and N.Z.)
informal any of various coloured soft drinks
low water
n
1 another name for →
low tide →
1
2 the state of any stretch of water at its lowest level
3 a situation of difficulty or point of least success, excellence, etc.
low-water mark
n
1 the level reached by seawater at low tide or by other stretches of water at their lowest level
2 the lowest point or level; nadir
meteoric water
n (Geology) ground water that has recently originated from the atmosphere
milk-and-water
adj milk and water when postpositive weak, feeble, or insipid
mineral water
n water containing dissolved mineral salts or gases, usually having medicinal properties
orange flower water
n a distilled infusion of orange blossom, used in cakes, confectionery, etc.
Perrier water , Perrier
n Trademark a sparkling mineral water from the south of France
(C20: named after a spring Source Perrier, at Vergèze, France)
pressurized-water reactor
n a nuclear reactor using water as coolant and moderator at a pressure that is too high to allow boiling to take place inside the reactor. The fuel is enriched uranium oxide cased in zirconium, (Abbrev.)
PWR
red water
n
1 a disease of cattle caused by the protozoan Babesia (or Piroplasma) bovis, which destroys the red blood cells, characterized by the passage of red or blackish urine
2 any of various other animal diseases characterized by haematuria
rose-water
n
a scented water used as a perfume and in cooking, made by the distillation of rose petals or by impregnation with oil of roses
b (as modifier)
rose-water scent
2 modifier elegant or delicate, esp. excessively so
slack water
n the period of still water around the turn of the tide, esp. at low tide
soda water
n an effervescent beverage made by charging water with carbon dioxide under pressure, (Sometimes shortened to)
soda
steam-generating heavy-water reactor
n a nuclear reactor using heavy water as the moderator, light water (H2O) as the coolant, and uranium oxide cased in zirconium alloy as the fuel, (Abbrev)
SGHWR
tap water
n water drawn off through taps from pipes in a house, as distinguished from distilled water, mineral water, etc.
toilet water
n a form of liquid perfume lighter than cologne
Compare →
cologne (Also called)
eau de toilette
vichy water
n
1 sometimes cap a natural mineral water from springs at Vichy in France, reputed to be beneficial to the health
2 any sparkling mineral water resembling this, (Often shortened to)
vichy
Wast Water
n a lake in NW England, in Cumbria in the Lake District. Length: 5 km (3 miles)
water back
n the U.S. name for →
back boiler
water bag
n a bag, sometimes made of skin, leather, etc., but in Australia usually canvas, for holding, carrying, and keeping water cool
water bailiff
n an official responsible for enforcing laws on river management and fishing
water-bath
n (Chem) a vessel containing heated water, used for heating substances
water bear
n another name for a →
tardigrade
water bed
n a waterproof mattress filled with water
water beetle
n any of various beetles of the families Dysticidae, Hydrophilidae, etc., that live most of the time in freshwater ponds, rivers, etc.
See →
whirligig beetle
water bird
n any aquatic bird, including the wading and swimming birds
water biscuit
n a thin crisp plain biscuit, usually served with butter or cheese
water blister
n a blister containing watery or serous fluid, without any blood or pus
water boatman
n any of various aquatic bugs of the families Notonectidae and Corixidae, having a flattened body and oarlike hind legs, adapted for swimming
water bottle
n any of various types of container for drinking water, such as a skin or leather bag used in some countries, a glass bottle for table use, or a flask used by soldiers or travellers
water brash
n (Pathol) another term for →
heartburn
water buffalo , ox
n a member of the cattle tribe, Bubalus bubalis, of swampy regions of S Asia, having widely spreading back-curving horns. Domesticated forms are used as draught animals, (Also called)
Asiatic buffalo, Indian buffalo, carabao
water bug
n any of various heteropterous insects adapted to living in the water or on its surface, esp. any of the family Belostomatidae (giant water bugs), of North America, India, and southern Africa, which have flattened hairy legs
water butt
n a barrel for collecting rainwater, esp. from a drainpipe
water cannon
n an apparatus for pumping water through a nozzle at high pressure, used in quelling riots
Water Carrier , Bearer
n the. the constellation Aquarius, the 11th sign of the zodiac
water chestnut
n
1 (Also called)
water caltrop a floating aquatic onagraceous plant, Trapa natans, of Asia, having four-pronged edible nutlike fruits
2 Chinese water chestnut. a Chinese cyperaceous plant, Eleocharis tuberosa, with an edible succulent corm
3 the corm of the Chinese water chestnut, used in Oriental cookery
water chinquapin
n a North American aquatic plant, Nelumbo lutea, having large umbrella-shaped leaves, pale yellow flowers, and edible nutlike seeds: family Nelumbonaceae
Compare →
chinquapin
water clock , glass
n any of various devices for measuring time that use the escape of water as the motive force
water closet
n
1 a lavatory flushed by water
2 a small room that has a lavatory, (Usually abbreviated to)
WC
water-cool
vb tr to cool (an engine, etc.) by a flow of water circulating in an enclosed jacket
Compare →
air-cool
♦
water-cooled adj
♦
water-cooling adj
water cooler
n a device for cooling and dispensing drinking water
water crake
n another name for spotted crake and dipper (the bird)
water cure
n
1 (Med) a nontechnical name for →
hydropathy →
hydrotherapy
2 Informal a form of torture in which the victim is forced to drink very large amounts of water
water cycle
n the circulation of the earth's water, in which water evaporates from the sea into the atmosphere, where it condenses and falls as rain or snow, returning to the sea by rivers or returning to the atmosphere by evapotranspiration, (Also called)
hydrologic cycle
water diviner
n (Brit) a person able to locate the presence of water, esp. underground, with a divining rod, (U.S. name)
waterfinder
water dog
n
1 a dog trained to hunt in water
2 Informal a dog or person who enjoys going in or on the water
water down
vb tr, adv
1 to dilute or weaken with water
2 to modify or adulterate, esp. so as to omit anything harsh, unpleasant, or offensive
to water down the truth
♦
watered-down adj
water dropwort
n See →
dropwort →
2
water flea
n any of numerous minute freshwater branchiopod crustaceans of the order Cladocera, which swim by means of hairy branched antennae
See also →
daphnia
water gap
n a deep valley in a ridge, containing a stream
water gas
n a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide produced by passing steam over hot carbon, used as a fuel and raw material
See also →
producer gas
water gate
n
1 a gate in a canal, leat, etc. that can be opened or closed to control the flow of water
2 a gate through which access may be gained to a body of water
water gauge
n an instrument that indicates the presence or the quantity of water in a tank, reservoir, or boiler feed, (Also called)
water glass
water glass
n
1 a viscous syrupy solution of sodium silicate in water: used as a protective coating for cement and a preservative, esp. for eggs
2 another name for →
water clock →
water gauge
water gum
n
1 any of several gum trees, esp. Nyssa biflora (or tupelo), of swampy areas of North America: family Nyssaceae
2 any of several Australian myrtaceous trees, esp. Tristania laurina, of swampy ground
water gun
n another term (esp. U.S.) for →
water pistol
water hammer
n a sharp concussion produced when the flow of water in a pipe is suddenly blocked
water hemlock
n another name for →
cowbane →
1
water hen
n another name for →
gallinule
water hole
n
1 a depression, such as a pond or pool, containing water, esp. one used by animals as a drinking place
2 a source of drinking water in a desert
water hyacinth
n a floating aquatic plant, Eichhornia crassipes, of tropical America, having showy bluish-purple flowers and swollen leafstalks: family Pontederiaceae. It forms dense masses in rivers, ponds, etc., and is a serious problem in the southern U.S., Australia, and parts of Africa
water ice
n an ice cream made from a frozen sugar syrup flavoured with fruit juice or purée; sorbet
water jacket
n a water-filled envelope or container surrounding a machine, engine, or part for cooling purposes, esp. the casing around the cylinder block of a pump or internal-combustion engine
Compare →
air jacket
water jump
n a ditch, brook, or pond over which athletes or horses must jump in a steeplechase or similar contest
water level
n
1 the level reached by the surface of a body of water
2 the water line of a boat or ship
water lily
n
1 any of various aquatic plants of the genus Nymphaea and related genera, of temperate and tropical regions, having large leaves and showy flowers that float on the surface of the water: family Nymphaeaceae
2 any of various similar and related plants, such as the yellow water lily
water line
n
1 a line marked at the level around a vessel's hull to which the vessel will be immersed when afloat
2 a line marking the level reached by a body of water
water louse
n an aquatic isopod of the genus Asellus, common in weedy water, (Also called)
water slater
water main
n a principal supply pipe in an arrangement of pipes for distributing water
water meadow
n a meadow that remains fertile by being periodically flooded by a stream
water measurer
n a slender heteropterous bug, Hydrometra stagnorum, that has a greatly elongated head and is found on still or sluggish water where it preys on water fleas, mosquito larvae, etc.
water meter
n a device for measuring the quantity or rate of water flowing through a pipe
water milfoil
n any of various pond plants of the genus Myriophyllum, having feathery underwater leaves and small inconspicuous flowers: family Haloragidaceae
water mill
n a mill operated by a water wheel
water mint
n a Eurasian mint plant, Mentha aquatica, of marshy places, having scented leaves and whorls of small flowers
water moccasin
n a large dark grey venomous snake, Agkistrodon piscivorus, of swamps in the southern U.S.: family Crotalidae (pit vipers), (Also called)
cottonmouth
water nymph
n
1 any fabled nymph of the water, such as the Naiad, Nereid, or Oceanid of Greek mythology
2 any of various aquatic plants, esp. a water lily or a naiad
water of crystallization
n water present in the crystals of certain compounds. It is chemically combined in stoichiometric amounts, usually by coordinate or hydrogen bonds, but can often be easily expelled
water ouzel
n another name for dipper (the bird)
water ox
n another term for →
water buffalo
water paint
n any water-based paint, such as an emulsion or an acrylic paint
water parting
n another term (esp. U.S.) for →
watershed →
1
water pepper
n any of several polygonaceous plants of the genus Polygonum, esp. P. hydropiper, of marshy regions, having reddish stems, clusters of small greenish flowers, and acrid-tasting leaves
water pimpernel
n another name for →
brookweed
water pipe
n
2 another name for →
hookah
water pistol
n a toy pistol that squirts a stream of water or other liquid, (Also called (U.S.))
water gun
water plantain
n any of several marsh plants of the genus Alisma, esp. A. plantago-aquatica, of N temperate regions and Australia, having clusters of small white or pinkish flowers and broad pointed leaves: family Alismataceae
water polo
n a game played in water by two teams of seven swimmers in which each side tries to throw or propel an inflated ball into the opponents' goal
water power
n
1 the power latent in a dynamic or static head of water as used to drive machinery, esp. for generating electricity
2 a source of such power, such as a drop in the level of a river, etc.
3 the right to the use of water for such a purpose, as possessed by a water mill
water purslane
n
1 an onagraceous marsh plant, Ludwigia palustris, of temperate and warm regions, having reddish stems and small reddish flowers
2 any of several lythraceous plants of wet places that resemble purslane, such as Peplis portular of Europe, which has small pinkish flowers, and Didiplis diandris of North America, which has small greenish flowers
water rail
n a large Eurasian rail, Rallus aquaticus, of swamps, ponds, etc., having a long red bill
water rat
n
1 any of several small amphibious rodents, esp. the water vole or the muskrat
2 any of various amphibious rats of the subfamily Hydromyinae, of New Guinea, the Philippines, and Australia
3 Informal a person who is very fond of water sports
water-repellent
adj (of fabrics, garments, etc.) having a finish that resists the absorption of water
water-resistant
adj (esp. of fabrics) designed to resist but not entirely prevent the penetration of water
water right
n the right to make use of a water supply, as for irrigation
water sapphire
n a deep blue variety of the mineral cordierite that occurs in Sri Lanka: used as a gemstone
water scorpion
n any of various long-legged aquatic insects of the heteropterous family Nepidae, which breathe by means of a long spinelike tube that projects from the rear of the body and penetrates the surface of the water
water seal
n a small amount of water contained in the trap of a drain to prevent the passage of foul smells
water shield
n
1 a North American nymphaeaceous plant, Brasenia schreberi, with floating oval leaves and purple flowers
2 any of several similar and related plants of the genus Cabomba
water shrew
n either of two small amphibious shrews, Neomys fodiens (European water shrew) or N. anomalus (Mediterranean water shrew), having a dark pelage with paler underparts
water-sick
adj (of land) made infertile or uncultivable by excessive irrigation
water-ski
n (also)
♦
water ski
1 a type of ski used for planing or gliding over water
vb , -skis, -skiing, -skied, -ski'd
2 intr to ride over water on a water-ski or water-skis while holding a rope towed by a speedboat
♦
water-skier n
♦
water-skiing n
water snake
n any of various colubrid snakes that live in or near water, esp. any of numerous harmless North American snakes of the genus Natrix, such as N. sipedon
water-soak
vb tr to soak or drench with or in water
water softener
n
1 any substance that lessens the hardness of water, usually by precipitating or absorbing calcium and magnesium ions
2 a tank, apparatus, or chemical plant that is used to filter or treat water to remove chemicals that cause hardness
water soldier
n an aquatic plant, Stratiotes aloides, of Europe and NW Asia, having rosettes of large leaves and large three-petalled white flowers: family Hydrocharitaceae
water spaniel
n either of two large curly-coated breeds of spaniel (the Irish and the American), which are used for hunting waterfowl
See also →
Irish water spaniel
water spider
n a Eurasian spider, Argyroneta aquatica, that spins a web in the form of an air-filled chamber in which it lives submerged in streams and ponds
water splash
n a place where a stream runs over a road
water sports
pl n
1 various sports, such as swimming, water-skiing, or windsurfing, that take place in or on water
2 Slang sexual practices that involve urination
water starwort
n See →
starwort →
2
water stick insect
n a slender sticklike flightless water bug, Ranatra linearis, that is predatory on small creatures such as water fleas
water strider , skater
n another name for a →
pond-skater
water supply
n
1 an arrangement of reservoirs, purification plant, distribution pipes, etc., for providing water to a community
2 the supply of treated and purified water for a community
water system
n
1 a river and all its tributaries
2 a system for supplying water to a community
water table
n
1 the surface of the water-saturated part of the ground, usually following approximately the contours of the overlying land surface
2 an offset or string course that has a moulding designed to throw rainwater clear of the wall below
water thrush
n either of two North American warblers, Seiurus motacilla or S. noveboracensis, having a brownish back and striped underparts and occurring near water
water torture
n any of various forms of torture using water, esp. one in which water drips or is slowly poured onto the victim's forehead
water tower
n a reservoir or storage tank mounted on a tower-like structure at the summit of an area of high ground in a place where the water pressure would otherwise be inadequate for distribution at a uniform pressure
water tube boiler
n a steam generator consisting of water drums and steam drums connected by banks of tubes through which the water is circulated. The tubes are exposed to the hot gases of the furnace and the heat transfer rate is high
water vapour
n water in the gaseous state, esp. when due to evaporation at a temperature below the boiling point
Compare →
steam
water vole
n a large amphibious vole, Arvicola terrestris, of Eurasian river banks: family Cricetidae, (Also called)
water rat
water wagtail
n another name for →
pied wagtail
water wheel
n
1 a simple water-driven turbine consisting of a wheel having vanes set axially across its rim, used to drive machinery
2 a wheel with buckets attached to its rim for raising water from a stream, pond, etc.
water wings
pl n an inflatable rubber device shaped like a pair of wings, which is placed round the front of the body and under the arms of a person learning to swim
water witch
n a person who claims the ability to detect water underground by means of a divining rod
white water
n
1 a stretch of water with a broken foamy surface, as in rapids
2 light-coloured sea water, esp. over shoals or shallows
wild water
n
a turbulent water in a river, esp. as an area for navigating in a canoe as a sport
b (as modifier)
wild-water racing
wood-and-water joey
n (Austral)
informal a person employed to carry out menial tasks
(from the biblical phrase ``hewers of wood and drawers of water'' (Joshua 9:21) and joey)
yellow water lily
n an aquatic nymphaeaceous plant, Nuphar lutea, of Europe and N Asia, having floating heart-shaped leaves and yellow flowers, (Also called)
brandy bottle