waterworks

[ waw-ter-wurks, wot-er- ]

noun

, plural wa·ter·works.

1. (used with a singular or plural verb) a complete system of reservoirs, pipelines, conduits, etc., by which water is collected, purified, stored, and pumped to urban users.
2. (used with a singular verb) a pumping station or a purifying station of such a system.
3. Sometimes waterwork. (usually used with a plural verb) a spectacular display of water, mechanically produced, as for a pageant.
4. (used with a singular or plural verb) Slang. tears, or the source of tears:

   to turn on the waterworks.

5. Slang. the kidneys.

waterworks

/ ˈwɔːtəˌwɜːks /

noun

1. functioning as singular an establishment for storing, purifying, and distributing water for community supply
2. functioning as plural a display of water in movement, as in fountains
3. informal.
   functioning as plural the urinary system, esp with reference to its normal functioning

   he has trouble with his waterworks

4. informal.
   functioning as plural crying; tears

Word History and Origins

Origin of waterworks¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English; water + works ( def ) (in the sense “manufacturing establishment”)

Idioms and Phrases

see turn on the waterworks .

Example Sentences

When I ask them what they learned from each other near the end of our hour-long conversation, the waterworks hit.

From Los Angeles Times

Kate teases a secret throughout the show, building suspense about the scarring childhood experience that permanently clogged her waterworks.

From Los Angeles Times

That the government is always caught unawares shows a depressing underinvestment in the waterworks of its cities and its rural areas.

From BBC

It didn’t take long for the waterworks to start on Friday at Lumen Field and test that theory.

From Seattle Times

Burned cars and rubble from damaged buildings blocked roads and men worked around the neighborhood to fix broken electricity lines and waterworks.

From New York Times

Related Words

• water system