• Water

    Pronunciation

    Origin

    From Middle English water, from Old English wæter ("water"), from Proto-Germanic *watōr ("water"), from Proto-Indo-European *wódr̥ ("water").

    cognates

    Cognate with Scots wattir, watir ("water"), North Frisian weeter ("water"), Eastern Frisian woater ("water"), West Frisian wetter ("water"), Dutch water ("water"), Low German water ("water"), German Wasser, Swedish vatten ("water"), Icelandic vatn ("water"), Old Irish coin fodorne ("otters", literally water-dogs), Latin unda ("wave"), Lithuanian vanduõ ("water"), Russian вода (voda, "water"), Albanian ujë ("water"), Ancient Greek ὕδωρ (hýdōr, "water"), Armenian գետ (get, "river"), Sanskrit उदन् (udán, "wave, water"), Hittite 𒉿𒀀𒋫𒅈 (wātar, "water").

    Noun

    water

    (countable and uncountable; plural waters)
    1. (uncountable) A chemical, found at room temperature and pressure as a clear liquid, having the formula Hâ‚‚O, required by all forms of life on Earth. From a linguistic point of view it can be argued that Hâ‚‚O exists in three states; water is one of them and is by definition liquid. Frozen water is called ice (though there are other frozen compounds known as ice they are given specific descriptions; e.g. dry ice refers to frozen carbon dioxide.) Ice alone refers to frozen water. Water vapor has various names, none of which is water. One can request a glass of water and not expect to receive a glass of ice or container of water vapor.
      By the action of electricity, the water was resolved into its two parts, oxygen and hydrogen.
      • 2013, Katie L. Burke, In the News, Oxygen levels on Earth skyrocketed 2.4 billion years ago, when cyanobacteria evolved photosynthesis: the ability to convert water and carbon dioxide into carbohydrates and waste oxygen using solar energy.
      1. (uncountable, in particular) The liquid form of this chemical; liquid Hâ‚‚O.
        May I have a glass of water?
        Your plants need more water.
        • 1835, Sir John Ross, Sir James Clark Ross, Narrative of a Second Voyage in Search of a North-west Passage …, Volume 1, pp.284-5Towards the following morning, the thermometer fell to 5°; and at daylight, there was not an atom of water to be seen in any direction.
        • 2002, Arthur T. Hubbard, Encyclopedia of Surface and Colloid Science (ISBN 0824707966), page 4895:A water drop placed on the surface of ice can either spread or form a lens depending on the properties of the three phases involved in wetting, i.e., on the properties of the ice, water, and gas phases.
        • 2013-05-11, The climate of Tibet: Pole-land, Of all the transitions brought about on the Earth’s surface by temperature change, the melting of ice into water is the starkest. It is binary. And for the land beneath, the air above and the life around, it changes everything.
      2. (countable) A serving of water.
        • 2006, Lori Foster, Erin McCarthy, Amy Garvey, Bad Boys of Summer, Joe bustled back and offered her a glass of wine but she shook her head. “Just a water, please.”
    2. (obsolete) Ancient philosophy.
      1. (alchemy) One of the four basic elements.
        He showed me the river of living water, sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne of God.
      2. (religion, philosophy) One of the five basic elements (see Classical_element).
    3. (often in the plural) Any body of water, or a specific part of it.
      The boat was found in within the territorial waters.
      These seals are a common sight on the coastal waters of Chile.
      We had a great view of the waters of this place.
      • 1526, William Tyndale (tr.), Bible, And as they went on their waye, they cam unto a certayne water, and the gelded man sayde: Se here is water, what shall lett me to be baptised?
      • 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, Mr. Pratt's Patients Chapter 1, 'Twas early June, the new grass was flourishing everywheres, the posies in the yard—peonies and such—in full bloom, the sun was shining, and the water of the bay was blue, with light green streaks where the shoal showed.
    4. A combination of water and other substance(s).
      1. (sometimes countable) Mineral water.
        Perrier is the most popular water in this restaurant.
      2. (countable, often in the plural) Spa water.
        Many people visit Bath to take the waters.
      3. (pharmacy) A solution in water of a gaseous or readily volatile substance.
        ammonia water
      4. Urine. from 15th c.
        • 1999, George RR Martin, A Clash of Kings, Ser Dunaver's squire Jodge could not hold his water when he slept.
      5. Amniotic fluid; used in the plural in the UK and in singular in North America.
        Before the child is born, the pregnant woman’s waters break.
        UK
        Before the child is born, the pregnant woman’s water breaks.
        North America
      6. (colloquial, medicine) Fluids in the body, especially when causing swelling.
        He suffers from water on the knee.
      7. (figuratively, in the plural or in the singular) A state of affairs; conditions; usually with an adjective indicating an adverse condition.
        The rough waters of change will bring about the calm after the storm.
      8. (colloquial, figuratively) A person's intuition.
        I know he'll succeed. I feel it in my waters.
      9. (uncountable, dated, finance) Excess valuation of securities.
        • 1902, August 2, Too Much Water to Suit Cummins, Iowa Governor Will Fight Rock Island Reorganization. He Says That Under the New Plan Too Much Water Is Put Into the Stock—Believes Plan Is Out of Harmony with Iowa Laws.
        • 1920, April 11, Says Stock 'Water' Didn't Affect Fare, the outstanding stock and bond obligations of the company were reduced from $34,000,000 to $24,000,000 by squeezing out the water.
      10. The limpidity and lustre of a precious stone, especially a diamond.
        a diamond of the first water, i.e. one that is perfectly pure and transparent
      11. A wavy, lustrous pattern or decoration such as is imparted to linen, silk, metals, etc.

    Synonyms

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    Hyponyms

    Meronyms

    Derived terms

    Terms derived from the noun water

    Descendants

    Full definition of water

    Verb

    1. (transitive) To pour water into the soil surrounding (plants).
      • 1900, L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Chapter 24, Aunt Em had just come out of the house to water the cabbages when she looked up and saw Dorothy running toward her.
    2. (transitive) To wet or supply with water; to moisten; to overflow with water; to irrigate.
      • Miltontears watering the ground
      • LongfellowMen whose lives glided on like rivers that water the woodlands.
    3. (transitive) To provide (animals) with water for drinking.I need to go water the cattle.
    4. (intransitive) To get or take in water.The ship put into port to water.
    5. (transitive, colloquial) To urinate onto.Nature called, so I stepped into the woods and watered a tree.
    6. (transitive) To dilute.''Can you water the whisky, please?
    7. (transitive, dated, finance) To overvalue (securities), especially through deceptive accounting.
      • 1930, April 10, Calls Rail Holding Companies Threat, such agencies would make it possible for the railroads to water stock and evade the law subjecting security issues to public regulation
    8. (intransitive) To fill with or secrete water.Chopping onions makes my eyes water.The smell of fried onions makes my mouth water.
    9. (transitive) To wet and calender, as cloth, so as to impart to it a lustrous appearance in wavy lines; to diversify with wavelike lines.to water silk

    Synonyms

    Antonyms

    Derived terms

    Terms derived from the verb water

    Anagrams

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