water

noun, verb — 28 senses

water

noun

UK /ˈwɔː.tə/ · /ˈwɔ.tɚ/

Etymology

From Middle English water, from Old English wæter (“water”), from Proto-West Germanic *watar, from Proto-Germanic *watōr (“water”), from Proto-Indo-European *wódr̥ (“water”). Cognates * Scots watter (“water”) * Yola wadher, waudher (“water”) * North Frisian waar, weeder, weeter, woar, woor, wååder, wåår (“water”) * Saterland Frisian Woater (“water”) * West Frisian wetter (“water”) * Cimbrian bassar, bazzar (“water”) * Dutch water (“water”) * Dutch Low Saxon water, wotter (“water”) * German Wasser (“water”) * German Low German Water, Woter (“water”) * Gottscheerish boßər, bàsser (“water”) * Limburgish Waater, water (“water”) * Luxembourgish Waasser (“water”) * Mòcheno bòsser (“water”) * Vilamovian woser (“water”) * West Flemish woater (“water”) * Yiddish וואַסער (vaser, “water”) * Danish vand (“water”) * Elfdalian wattn (“water”) * Faroese vatn (“water”) * Icelandic vatn (“water”) * Norwegian Nynorsk vatn (“water”) * Norwegian Bokmål vann (“water”) * Swedish vatten (“water”) * Gothic 𐍅𐌰𐍄𐍉 (watō, “water”) * Old Irish coin fodorne (“otters”, literally “water-dogs”) * Latin unda (“wave”) * Lithuanian vanduõ (“water”) * Polish woda (“water”) * Russian вода́ (vodá, “water”) * Albanian ujë (“water”) * Ancient Greek ὕδωρ (húdōr, “water”) * Armenian գետ (get, “river”) * Sanskrit उदन् (udán, “wave, water”) * Hittite 𒉿𒀀𒋻 (wa-a-tar, “water”)

19 senses
  1. 1An inorganic compound (of molecular formula H₂O) found…
  2. 2The liquid form of this substance: liquid H₂O.
  3. 3A serving of liquid water.
  4. 4The aforementioned liquid, considered one of the…
  5. 5Water in a body; an area of open water.
  6. 6A body of water, almost always a river, sometimes a lake…
  7. 7Mineral water.
  8. 8Spa water; hot springs.
  9. 9A solution in water of a gaseous or readily volatile substance.
  10. 10Urine.
  11. 11Amniotic fluid or the amniotic sac containing it. (Used…
  12. 12A fluid that causes swelling.
  13. 13The water supply, as a service or utility.
  14. 14A state of affairs; conditions; usually with an…
  15. 15A person's intuition.
  16. 16Excess valuation of securities.
  17. 17Something which dilutes, or has the effect of watering down.
  18. 18The limpidity and lustre of a precious stone, especially…
  19. 19A wavy, lustrous pattern or decoration such as is…
1

An inorganic compound (of molecular formula H₂O) found at room temperature and pressure as a clear liquid; it is present naturally as rain, and found in rivers, lakes and seas; its solid form is ice and its gaseous form is steam.

  • By the action of electricity, the water was resolved into its two parts, oxygen and hydrogen.
  • It is wholly out of the power of language to convey any idea of the blissful enjoyment of obtaining water, after an almost total want of it, during eight and forty hours, in the scorching regions of an Arabian desert, in the month of July.1805 December, Julius Griffiths, “A Journey across the Desert”, in The Monthly Mirror, page 362:
1 more example
  • 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.2013 September-October, Katie L. Burke, “In the News”, in American Scientist, archived from the original on 03 Sep 2013:
2

In particular The liquid form of this substance: liquid H₂O.

  • May I have a glass of water?
  • Your plants need more water.
3 more examples
  • Towards the following morning, the thermometer fell to 5°; and at daylight, there was not an atom of water to be seen in any direction.1835, Sir John Ross, Sir James Clark Ross, Narrative of a Second Voyage in Search of a North-west Passage …, Volume 1, pages 284–5:
  • 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.2002, Arthur T. Hubbard, Encyclopedia of Surface and Colloid Science, →ISBN, page 4895:
  • 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.2013 May 11, “The climate of Tibet: Pole-land”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8835, archived from the original on 10 Mar 2023, page 80:
3

A serving of liquid water.

  • Joe bustled back and offered her a glass of wine but she shook her head. “Just a water, please.”2006, Lori Foster, Erin McCarthy, Amy Garvey, Bad Boys of Summer, →ISBN, page 91:
4

Alchemy, Human sciences, Philosophy, Pseudoscience, Sciences The aforementioned liquid, considered one of the Classical elements or basic elements of alchemy.

  • He showed me the river of living water, sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne of God.
5

In plural Water in a body; an area of open water.

  • Roſa. O vain peticioner, beg a greater matter, Thou now requeſts but Mooneſhine in the water.c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Loues Labour’s Lost”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i], page 138, column 2:
  • '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.1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter I, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:
4 more examples
  • "If you foresee the event and you go forward, then you are criminally negligent," she said, adding, "This was a boat that navigated on the waters of Lake George since 1979. In terms of criminal negligence, there clearly wasn't the foreseeability that there may be in civil negligence."2007 February 6, Danny Hakim, quoting Kathleen B. Hogan, “Two Misdemeanor Charges in Lake George Capsizing”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 26 Nov 2022:
  • The president expressed hope that creating rain over waters between the countries would help reduce pollution.2019, VOA Learning English (public domain)
  • And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.
  • The boat was found within the territorial waters.
6

Archaic, Dialectal, Poetic A body of water, almost always a river, sometimes a lake or reservoir, especially in the names given to such bodies.

  • And as they went on their waye they cam vnto a certayne water and the gelded man ſayde: Se here is water what ſhall lett me to be baptiſed?1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Acts viij:[36], folio clxvi, recto:
  • When the man rode off with the silver jug from the beautiful maiden, who presented it to him, an old crone set off in pursuit of him with such velocity, that she would surely have caught him, but that providentially he came to a running water.1828, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, volume I, London: William Harrison Ainsworth, page 183:
2 more examples
  • On one side lay the Ocean, and on one Lay a great water, and the moon was full.1842, Alfred Tennyson, “Morte d’Arthur”, in Poems. […], volume II, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 4:
  • But ere he came to Clyde's water, fu' loud the wind did blaw.1865, William Allingham, editor, The Ballad Book: a selection of the choicest British ballads, William and May Margaret, or the Water of Clyde:

› A combination of water and other substance(s).

7

Sometimes Mineral water.

  • Perrier is the most popular water in this restaurant.
8

In plural, Often Spa water; hot springs.

  • Many people visit Bath to take the waters.
  • Rick: My health. I came to Casablanca for the waters. Captain Renault: The waters? What waters? We're in the desert. Rick: I was misinformed.1942, Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein, Howard Koch, Casablanca:
9

A solution in water of a gaseous or readily volatile substance.

  • ammonia water

› A combination of water and other substance(s). › A fluid in the body.

10

Urine.

  • Ser Dunaver's squire Jodge could not hold his water when he slept.1999, George R.R. Martin, A Clash of Kings, Bantam, published 2011, page 458:
11

Amniotic fluid or the amniotic sac containing it. (Used only in the plural in the UK but often also in the singular in North America.)

  • Before the child is born, the pregnant woman’s water breaks. (North America)
  • Before your child is born, your water(s) will break. (North America)
1 more example
  • Before the child is born, the pregnant woman’s waters break. (UK)
12

Medicine, Sciences Colloquial A fluid that causes swelling.

  • He suffers from water on the knee.
13

Business Often The water supply, as a service or utility.

  • The city threatened to cut off our water after we went only a month without paying our bill.
  • Did you leave the water running again?
14

Figuratively, In plural 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.
  • Taiwan didn’t report any Chinese military planes that went beyond the median line and entered the zone for a week from Feb. 27 to March 5. After two were detected on March 6, the next four days had none. Such flights resumed in small numbers between Wednesday and Friday. The drop coincided with the annual meeting of China’s legislature. While such flights have fallen in the past during major events and public holidays, this year’s fall was more prominent than in the past. Analysts said the meeting could not be the sole reason behind the recent drop. Another potential factor could be a desire to calm the waters with Washington weeks before a visit by U.S. President Donald Trump. The White House has said that Trump would travel to China from March 31 to April 2, though Beijing has not officially confirmed that.2026 March 15, “Taiwan reports large-scale Chinese military aircraft presence near island”, in Politico, sourced from Associated Press, archived from the original on 15 Mar 2026:
15

Colloquial, Figuratively A person's intuition.

  • I know he'll succeed. I feel it in my waters.
16

Business, Finance Dated Excess valuation of securities.

  • 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.1902 August 2, “Too Much Water to Suit Cummins”, in The Atlanta Constitution:
  • the outstanding stock and bond obligations of the company were reduced from $34,000,000 to $24,000,000 by squeezing out the water.1920 April 11, “Says Stock 'Water' Didn't Affect Fare”, in New York Times:
17

Colloquial, Figuratively Something which dilutes, or has the effect of watering down.

  • Thanks for the great video. No water, 100% substance!

› A particular quality or appearance…

18

The limpidity and lustre of a precious stone, especially a diamond.

  • a diamond of the first water is perfectly pure and transparent
  • And when she raised it to see what caused this agitation, she saw nothing—nothing but the vast solitary emerald which Queen Elizabeth had given her. And was that not enough? she asked. It was of the finest water.1928, Virginia Woolf, Orlando: A Biography, London: The Hogarth Press, →OCLC; republished as Orlando: A Biography (eBook no. 0200331h.html), Australia: Project Gutenberg Australia, July 2015:
19

A wavy, lustrous pattern or decoration such as is imparted to linen, silk, metals, etc.

Synonyms
water, aqua, dihydrogen monoxide (abbr. DHMO), H₂O, hydric acid, hydro, hydrogen hydroxide, hydrogen oxide, hydrohydroxic acid, hydroxic acid, hydroxilic acid, hydroxylic acid, oxidane, μ-oxido dihydrogen, universal solvent
Derived terms
1220 termsabove water, above-water, Agnes Water, Allan Water, American Water Spaniel, American water spaniel, ammonia water, angel water, anomalous water, antiwater, Apollinaris water, artesian water, Ashford-in-the-Water, Asian water monitor, atmospheric water, Atwater, Australian water dragon, a yard of pump water, back-water, Backwater, back water, backwater, Barbados water, barley-water, barley water, bath water, bathwater, Bayswater, Bayswater North, beanwater, Berowra Waters, Bervie Water, between wind and water, Biggera Waters, bilge water, bilgewater, black-backed water tyrant, blackwater, Blackwater, black water, black-water rafting, blood in the water, blood is thicker than water, blow out of the water, blow something out of the water, blow water, blue-water, bluewater, blue water, Bluewater, blue-water navy, Bluewater Park, body of water, bongwater, bore water, bottled water, Boundary Waters, bound water, Bourton-on-the-Water, Bowmont Water, brackishwater, brackish water, branch water, branch-water, bread and water, break water, Breakwater, breakwater, Breydon Water, bridge over troubled waters, Bridgewater, Bridgewater North, Bridgewater On Loddon, Brightwaters, Broadbeach Waters, Broadwater, bromine water, Brookwater, brown water, brown-water navy, bubble water, Burleigh Waters, burn the water, Bywater, Cairn Water, Cape Bridgewater, carbonated water, Carron Water, carry someone's water, carry water for, cast someone's water, casual water, catchwater, cat's water, cedar water, Ceduna Waters, Chinese water chestnut, Chinese water deer, Chinese water torture, chlorine water, chum in the water, Cincinnati water maze, city water, clary water, clear blue water, Clear Island Waters, clearwater, cloudwater, Clunie Water, coastal waters, coconut water, coldwater, cold water, cold-water, Cold Water Creek, cold water flat, cold-water flat, coldwater flat, Cologne water, come hell or high water, Coniston Water, cooling water, couldn't pour water out of a boot, couldn't pour water out of a boot with the instructions on the heel, court holy water, crazy water, creekwater, creeping water bug, crispy water, Curlew Waters, Currumbin Waters, cutwater, Daly Waters, dead as ditch-water, dead in the water, dead water, deep water, deep-water, Deep Water, deepwater, Deepwater, Deep Water Bay, deep-water solo, Derwent Water, Derwentwater, deuterated water, dew water, dewwater, diamond-water paradox, dill water, dillwater, dip one's toe in the water, dishwater, distilled water, ditchwater, domestic hot water, doubly labeled water, Douglas Water, drinking water, Drinkwater, dripping water hollows a stone, dyewater, eastern water dragon, Edgewater, Egyptian water-lily, Eli Waters, Elter Water, Endrick Water, Ettrick Water, European water vole, every miller draws water to his own mill, eyewater, Eye Water, eye-watering, fairwater, feed water, feedwater, feeling in one's water, feel in one's water, fine-leaved water-dropwort, firewater, first water, fish-out-of-water, fish out of water, fish water, fizzy water, flat water, flatwater, floodwater, flood water, Florida water, flower water, forewater, formation water, fossil water, fountain water, fountainwater, fragrant water lily, Freemans Waterhole, free water, fresh-water, freshwater, Freshwater, fresh water, Freshwater Creek, Freshwater Point, Frisian water dog, functional water, Gala Water, gangly drink of water, gas water, get the dirty water off one's chest, giant water bug, giggle water, Gippsland water dragon, Glaisnock Water, glass water, Glazert Water, goat-water, goat water, go through fire and water, go to water, graywater, gray water, green water, green-water navy, grey water, greywater, gripe water, groundwater, ground water, gum water, gypwater, happy as a clam at high water, hard water, headwater, headwaters, heartwater, heavy-water, heavy water, heavy-water reactor, hell or high water, Hermitage Water, hewers of wood and drawers of water, hexagonal water, high water, high-water, highwater, high-water mark, hindwater, hold one's head above water, hold one's water, hold water, holy water, holy-water sprinkle, holy water sprinkler, hot water, hot water bag, hot-water bottle, hot water bottle, hot water bottle rash, hot water can, hot water crust, hot water heater, hot water pastry, Hungary water, Hunza water, ice and water shield, iced water, ice ice water, ice water, Indian tonic water, international waters, Irish water spaniel, Jack-in-the-water, Javelle water, Javel water, jerkwater, jerk-water, jerk water, jerk water town, jerkwater town, juvenile water, keep one's head above the water, keep one's head above water, Laffing Waters, lakewater, Lancashire over the water, large-headed water snake, laughing water, laurel water, lavender water, lemon water, Len Waters Estate, Liddel Water, Liffey water, light water, light-water, light water reactor, like a duck takes to water, like a duck to water, like water, like water off a duck's back, lilacwater, limewater, lime water, line drawn in water, line drawn on water, liquid water, lithia water, load water line, Lockyer Waters, long drink of water, low water, low-water mark, Luggie Water, Lunan Water, make foul water, make water, mannish water, Mediterranean Deep Water, Mediterranean water, meltwater, Mermaid Waters, meteoric water, micellar water, midwater, milk-and-water, mineral water, Minnie Water, mint water, miswater, mop water, mopwater, Morris water maze, Moscow Water Dog, mouth-watering, muddy the water, mud water, mudwater, napha water, Newcastle Waters, nonwater, northeastern water tick, northern water dragon, North Water, not have both oars in the water, oatmeal water, oceanwater, off the water wagon, of the best water, of the finest water, of the first water, oil and water, oil and water don't mix, omum water, one's teeth water, on the water wagon, open water, orange blossom water, orange flower water, orthowater, overwater, palaeowater, paleowater, pass water, peach water, Pelican Waters, personal water craft, personal water-craft, phossy water, Piara Waters, pink water, piss water, piss-water, pisswater, plague water, plain water, plantain water, polywater, pomewater, pondwater, poolwater, poop water, porewater, pore water pressure, Portuguese Water Dog, potash water, pour cold water on, pour cold water over, pour oil on troubled waters, preach water and drink wine, precipitable water, pressurized water reactor, process hot water, produced water, puppy water, push water uphill, put one's toe in the water, quarry water, quarter water, quicksilver water, quickwater, quick water, quinine water, rainwater, rain water, raw water, redwater, red water, reticulated water, rice water, river water, riverwater, river-water, rock water, rose water, Rosewater, rosewater, running water, Run-O-Waters, Rutland Water, sachet water, salt water, saltwater, salt-water, Saltwater, salt water aspiration syndrome, Saltwater River, salt water taffy, Sapele water, sauna water, scrawny drink of water, sea water, seawater, self-watering, seltzer water, semi-heavy water, semiheavy water, semiwater, service water, Shallowater, Shallow Water, Shearwater, shearwater, sheerwater, Shee Water, Shoalwater, Silverwater, sinkwater, six-water grog, skinny drink of water, slack-water, slack water, slickwater, smell blood in the water, snow water, snowwater, snow-water, soda water, softened water, softwater, soft water, Southampton Water, Spanish Water Dog, sparkling water, spa water, spend money like water, spring-water, spring water, springwater, spunk-water, spurnwater, standing water, static water, stickwater, still water, still water runs deep, storm in a glass of water, stormwater, streamwater, strong-water, strong water, stump-water, sugarwater, sugar water, superheavy water, super-heavy water, super heavy water, superwater, surface water, surfeit water, swamp water, Swanwater, Swanwater West, sweet water, sweetwater, Sweetwater, Sydling Water, Sylvania Waters, table water, tailwater, take in water, take on water, take to something like a duck to water, take water, tall drink of water, tall glass of water, tap water, tar water, tea-water, Teeswater, territorial water, territorial waters, test the water, test the waters, The Freshwater, the mill cannot grind with water that is past, there must be something in the water, the seventh water after kissel, thin as a yard of pump water, throw cold water on, throw out the baby with the bath water, throw the baby out with the bath water, tidewater, tide water, Titicaca water frog, toast water, tobacco water, toilet water, tomato water, tonic water, too much water drowned the miller, topwater, treacle water, tread water, tritiated water, Tumbling Waters, Twin Waters, Two Waters, Ullswater, uncharted water, under water, underwater, unholy water, unspoken water, unwatering, Van de Water, velvet water bug, Vichy water, Vienna Standard Mean Ocean Water, Virginia Water, walk on water, warmwater, warm-water port, washwater, wastewater, waste water, waste-water, Wast Water, waterable, water absorption, water adder, water aerobics, waterage, water allergy, water anole, water-arum, water arum, water ash, Water Baby, water baby syndrome, waterbag, water-bag, water bag, water bailage, water bailie, water bailiff, water balance, waterball, water ballast, water ballet, water balloon, Waterbank, Water Banquet, water bar, waterbar, water barometer, water-based, waterbased, water basin, water basket, water-basket, water-bath, water bath, water battery, water bead, water bear, Water Bearer, waterbed, water bed, water-bed, water beech, water beetle, water-bellows, water bewitched, water bicycle, water bike, waterbike, water birch, water bird, waterbird, waterbirding, water birth, water birthing, water biscuit, water blink, water blinks, water blister, water-blob, water block, water bloom, water blossom pea, water boa, waterboard, waterboat, water boatman, water body, waterbody, waterboiler, water boiler, waterbok, waterbomb, water bomb, water bomber, water bong, water-borne, waterborne, water bottle, waterbottle, water bottle flipping, water bottler, water-bouget, water-bound, waterbound, water box, water boy, waterboy, water brash, water break, waterbreak, water-breaker, water breaker, water bridge, waterbuck, water buffalo, water buffalo calf, water bug, waterbug, waterbus, water bus, water-butt, water butt, water cabbage, water caltrop, water camper, water can, water cannon, water carriage, water carrier, water-carrier, Watercarrin, water-carrying, water cavy, Water Cay, water celery, water cell, water cement, water chestnut, water chicken, water chinquapin, watercise, watercleft, water clock, waterclock, water closet, watercloset, water clover, watercoaster, watercock, water coconut, watercolor, watercolour, water column, water conditioner, water content, water-cooled, water-cooler, water cooler, watercooler, water-cooler effect, water cooler effect, water core, water couch, watercourse, water cracker, watercraft, water crane, water cremation, water-cress, watercress, water crouton, water crow, water cure, water-cure, water cycle, water deck, water deer, water devil, water diaper, water divide, water diviner, water divining, water-dock, waterdock, water doctor, waterdog, water dog, water down, water dragon, water drinker, waterdrome, waterdrop, water dropwort, water drum, water dumping, Water Eaton, watered, watered-down, watered stock, water-elder, water elephant, water engine, water equivalent, waterer, water fairy, Waterfall, waterfall, Waterfall Gully, water-fast, waterfast, water fear, water-fear, water-fearing, water feature, water fennel, water fern, waterfight, water fight, waterfilled, waterfilling, water filter, water finds its level, water finds its own level, water fire, waterfit, water fitness, water flag, water flea, waterflood, water flow, waterflow, water fluoridation, waterfoot, water footprint, Waterford, Waterford Park, Waterford West, water for injection, water fountain, waterfowl, water fowl, waterfowler, waterfowling, water frame, water-free, waterfree, waterfright, waterfrog, water frog, waterfront, waterful, water-gall, watergang, water-gang, water gap, water garden, water gas, water gate, watergate, water gauge, water gilding, water girl, water glass, water goanna, watergrass, water gruel, waterguard, water-gum, water gum, water gun, water gut, water hammer, water hardness, water haul, waterhead, water heater, Water Hemisphere, water hemlock, water hen, waterhen, water hike, water hog, waterhole, water hole, water-hole, Waterholes, water horse, waterhorse, water horsetail, Waterhouse, waterhouse, water-hugging, water hyacinth, water hyssop, water ice, water icing, watering, watering call, watering can, watering hole, watering hole attack, watering house, watering place, watering pot, water injection, water intoxication, waterish, Water Island, water is wet, water jacket, water-jar, water jet, water joint, waterjug, water jug, water jump, waterkeeper, water key, water knot, water-laid, waterland, water landing, water law, water leader, waterleaf, water-leech, water leg, water lemon, water lens, water lentil, waterless, water-lettuce, water lettuce, water level, waterlike, waterlily, water lily, water-lily, waterline, water line, water-line, water-line model, waterling, water locust, water log, water-log, waterlog, waterlogged, Waterloo, Waterloo Corner, water lot, water louse, water-loving, waterly, water main, watermaker, waterman, Waterman, Watermans Bay, watermanship, water mantle, watermark, watermaster, water maze, watermaze, water-meadow, water meadow, watermeal, water measurer, watermedia, water melon, watermelon, water memory, water meter, watermilfoil, water milfoil, water mill, watermill, watermiller, water millet, watermilling, water mint, water mite, water moccasin, water mold, watermole, water mole, watermonger, water monitor, water monkey, water monster, watermoss, water motor, water mouse, water mower, water nappy, waterness, water net, water nymph, water oak, water of crystallisation, water of crystallization, water off a duck, water off a duck's back, water of hydration, water of life, waterologer, water on the brain, water on the chest, water on the knee, water opossum, water organ, water organist, Water Orton, water ousel, water-ousel, water ouzel, water over the dam, water parade, water park, waterpark, water-parsnip, water parsnip, water parting, water penny, water pennywort, water pepper, water-permeable, waterphone, water pick, water pie, water pig, water pill, water pillar, water pimpernel, waterpipe, water pipe, water pipit, water pistol, waterplane, water plant, water-plantain, water plantain, water plate, waterplay, water pocket, waterpoint, water poisoning, water police, water pollution, water polo, water polo player, water popping, water poppy, water-porridge, waterport, waterpot, water potential, waterpower, water power, water-powered, water pox, water pressure, water primrose, water-primrose, water prince, water privilege, water-proof, waterproof, waterproofed, water protector, water pump, water pump pliers, water purifier, water-purslane, water purslane, water python, waterquake, water race, water-race, water rail, water ram, water-rat, water rat, water-rate, water-rent, water-repellent, water repellent, water-resistant, water ribbons, water right, water ring, water rite, Water-rock, water rocket, water roux, Waters, water sachet, water-salamander, water sandwich, water sapphire, waterscape, water scavenger beetle, water scooter, water scorpion, water screw, water's edge, water seeks its level, water seeks its own level, water-shed, watershed, watersheep, water-shield, water shield, watershoot, water shortage, water shrew, water sickness, waterside, water sign, water skater, water ski, water-ski, waterski, water-skier, waterskier, water skiing, water-skiing, waterskiing, waterskin, water skipper, watersky, water sky, Watersleigh, water-slickened, waterslide, water slide, water-sliding, watersmeet, water smoke, water snail, water snake, water-soak, watersoaked, water-soaked, water softener, water softening, water soldier, water-soluble, water souchet, water souchy, water spaniel, water speedwell, water spider, water spinach, water-splash, watersport, water sport, water spot, water spout, waterspout, water sprite, watersprout, water sprout, waterstained, water starwort, waterstone, water stop, waterstop, Water Stratford, waterstream, water strider, waterstuff, water supply, water table, water tank, water tap, water taxi, water telescope, water tender, water thermometer, water-thief, waterthief, water thrush, waterthrush, waterthyme, water tick, watertight, water-tight, water to my mill, water to one's mill, water tower, Watertown, water toxemia, water tree, water treeing, water trough, water tube, water-tube boiler, water tunnel, water tupelo, water turbine, water turkey, water twist, water under the bridge, Watervale, Water Valley, water-vapor, water vapor, water vapor pressure, water vapour, water-vascular system, water vascular system, Waterview, Waterview Heights, Waterville, water violet, water vole, water wagon, water wagtail, waterwall, water wand, waterward, waterwards, water wart, waterway, Waterways, waterweed, waterwheel, water wheel, water-wheel, water white, water-white, water willow, water wing, water wings, waterwise, water wisteria, water-witch, water witcher, water witching, waterwoman, waterwork, waterworker, waterworks, water works, water-works, waterworld, water world, waterworn, water-worn, waterwort, waterworthy, watery, water yam, water year, waterzooi, watsu, weak as water, wellwater, white water, white-water, whitewater, white water lily, white-water rafting, white water rafting, wirewater, witch's water, wood and water joey, yellow-flowered water hyssop, you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink, you can lead horses to water, but you can't make them drink, you don't miss the water till the well runs dry, you never miss the water till the well runs dry, you never miss the water until the well runs dry, Ziegler's water rat, Ziegler's Water Rat, ziment water
Related terms
beverage, liquid
Hyponyms
30 termsAdam's ale, Adam's wine, blackwater, branch water, brine, corporation pop, distilled water, DHW, domestic hot water, drinking water, fresh water, heavy water, ice, light water, meltwater, mineral water, process hot water, rainwater, salt water, sea water, sparkling water, spring water, steam, stormwater, sweet water, tap water, toilet water, wastewater, water vapor, white water
Holonyms
aquifer, body of water, brook, creek, estuary, lake, ocean, pond, pool, puddle, river, sea, stream

water

verb

Etymology From Middle English wateren, from Old English wæterian, from Proto-Germanic *watrōną, *watrijaną, from Proto-Germanic *watōr (“water”), from Proto-Indo-European *wódr̥ (“water”). Cognates Cognate with Scots watter (“water”), Saterland Frisian woaterje (“to water”), West Frisian wetterje (“to water”), Dutch wateren (“to water”), German Low German watern (“to water”), German wässern (“to water”), Danish vande (“to water”), Swedish vattna (“to water”), Icelandic vatna (“to water”).

9 senses
  1. 1To pour water into the soil surrounding (plants).
  2. 2To wet or supply with water; to moisten; to overflow…
  3. 3To provide (animals) with water for drinking.
  4. 4To get or take in water.
  5. 5To urinate onto.
  6. 6To dilute.
  7. 7To overvalue (securities), especially through deceptive…
  8. 8To fill with or secrete water or similar liquid.
  9. 9To wet and calender, as cloth, so as to impart to it a…
1

To pour water into the soil surrounding (plants).

  • Aunt Em had just come out of the house to water the cabbages when she looked up and saw Dorothy running toward her.1900, L. Frank Baum, chapter 24, in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz:
2

To wet or supply with water; to moisten; to overflow with water; to irrigate.

  • tears watering the ground1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
  • Men whose lives glided on like rivers that water the woodlands.1847 November 1, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Evangeline, a Tale of Acadie, Boston, Mass.: William D. Ticknor & Company, →OCLC, part I:
3

To provide (animals) with water for drinking.

  • I need to water the cattle.
  • While they watered and washed their horses, I talked with a red-capped man, some kind of chief.2008, Oisin Curran, Mopus, page 34:
4

To get or take in water.

  • The ship put into port to water.
  • After working the 1.30 p.m. through train from Forres to Aberdeen as far as Elgin, she returns tender first with a local passenger train and is then coaled and watered at Forres shed, and eventually works back to Perth on the 10.20 p.m. through freight.1944 January and February, W. McGowan Gradon, “Forres as a Railway Centre”, in Railway Magazine, page 23:
5

Colloquial To urinate onto.

  • Nature called, so I stepped into the woods and watered a tree.
6

To dilute.

  • Can you water the whisky, please?
7

Business, Finance Dated To overvalue (securities), especially through deceptive accounting.

  • such agencies would make it possible for the railroads to water stock and evade the law subjecting security issues to public regulation1930 April 10, “Calls Rail Holding Companies Threat”, in The Sun:
8

To fill with or secrete water or similar liquid.

  • Chopping onions makes my eyes water.
  • The smell of fried onions makes my mouth water.
9

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
Derived terms
bewater, dewater, feed and water, overwater, overwatered, poop water, rewater, rewatered, underwater, underwatered, unwater, unwaterable, unwatered, waterable, water down, watered down, waterer, watering, watering can, watering hole, watering place, watering pot

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.

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