water
a transparent, odorless, tasteless liquid, a compound of hydrogen and oxygen, H2O, freezing at 32°F or 0°C and boiling at 212°F or 100°C, that in a more or less impure state constitutes rain, oceans, lakes, rivers, etc.: it contains 11.188 percent hydrogen and 88.812 percent oxygen, by weight.
a special form or variety of this liquid, such as rain.
the liquid content of a river, inlet, etc., with reference to its relative height, especially as dependent on tide: There is a difference of 20 feet between high and low water.
the surface of a stream, river, lake, ocean, etc.: above, below, or on the water.
waters,
flowing water, or water moving in waves: The wreckage of the dock was carried away on the river's mighty waters.
the sea or seas bordering a particular country or continent or located in a particular part of the world: We left San Diego and sailed south for Mexican waters.
a liquid solution or preparation, especially one used for cosmetic purposes: lavender water;lemon water.
Often waters. Medicine/Medical.
amniotic fluid.
the bag of waters; amnion: Her water broke at 2 a.m.
any of various solutions of volatile or gaseous substances in water: ammonia water.
any liquid organic secretion that is mostly water, such as tears, perspiration, or urine: At the sad news, her chin trembled, and water sprang to her eyes.
Often waters. water in an impure state as obtained from a mineral spring: Last year we went to Marienbad for the waters.
Finance. fictitious assets or the inflated values they give to the stock of a corporation.
a wavy, lustrous pattern or marking, as on silk fabrics or metal surfaces.
(formerly) the degree of transparency and brilliancy of a diamond or other precious stone: They were diamonds of the first water.
to sprinkle, moisten, or drench with water: She watered the flowers with the hose.The fields were well watered by a heavy rain.
to supply (animals) with water for drinking: He filled the trough to water the horses.
to furnish with a supply of water, as a ship.
to furnish water to (a region), as by streams, or to supply (land) with water, as by irrigation: The valley is watered by a branch of the Colorado River.Our land is watered by the All-American Canal.
to dilute, weaken, soften, or adulterate with, or as with, water (often followed by down): We had to water the soup to make it go around.Don’t water down the report, even if it’s unfavorable.
Finance. to issue or increase the par value of (shares of stock) without having the assets to warrant doing so (often followed by down).
to fill with or secrete water or liquid, as the eyes do when irritated, or as the mouth does at the sight or thought of tempting food: The smoke from the bonfire made his eyes water.My mouth watered when I smelled the turkey roasting.
(of an animal) to drink water: The deer came down to water at the lake at dawn.
to take in a supply of water, as a ship: Our ship will water at Savannah.
of or relating to water in any way: a water journey.
holding, or designed to hold, water: a water jug.
worked or powered by water: a water turbine.
heating, pumping, or circulating water (often used in combination): hot-water furnace;city waterworks.
used in or on water: water skis.
containing or prepared with water, as for hardening or dilution: water mortar.
located or occurring on, in, or by water: water music;water frontage.
residing by or in, or ruling over, water: water people;water deities.
Idioms about water
above water, free from embarrassment or trouble, especially of a financial nature: They had so many medical bills that they could hardly keep their heads above water.
break water,
to break the surface of the water by emerging from it.
Swimming. to break the surface of the water with the feet, especially in swimming the breaststroke doing the frog kick.
Medicine/Medical. to break the amniotic sac prior to parturition.
by water, by ship or boat: to send goods by water.
dead in the water. dead (def. 41).
hold water,
to be logical, defensible, or valid: That accusation won't hold water.
to check the movement of a rowboat by keeping the oars steady with the blades vertical.
in deep water, in great distress or difficulty: Their marriage has been in deep water for some time.
in hot water, Informal. in trouble; in a predicament: Unflattering comments about his rivals have landed the comedian in hot water.
like water, lavishly; abundantly; freely: The champagne flowed like water.
make one's mouth water, to excite a desire or appetite for something: The roasting turkey made our mouths water.
make water,
(of a boat) to allow water to enter; leak.
to urinate.
take (on) water, (of a boat) to allow water to enter through leaks or portholes or over the side: Our dinghy took water over the bow from time to time, as the lake was very rough.A distress call was received from a boat that was taking on water.
tread water. tread (def. 24).
water under the bridge, something that is past and cannot be changed, and is therefore not worth brooding or worrying about: The whole experience left a bad taste in my mouth, but it’s all water under the bridge now and life has moved on.
Origin of water
1Other words from water
- wa·ter·er, noun
- wa·ter·less, adjective
- wa·ter·less·ly, adverb
- wa·ter·less·ness, noun
- wa·ter·like, adjective
- out·wa·ter, verb (used with object)
- o·ver·wa·ter, verb
- re·wa·ter, verb
Words Nearby water
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use water in a sentence
The soil is also very dry, which counterintuitively makes it harder for water to infiltrate.
California wildfires may give way to massive mudslides | Ula Chrobak | September 17, 2020 | Popular-ScienceWhat’s more, the wetlands would prevent some of that water from moving inland, so flood levels around those homes would rise higher.
Soggy coastal soils? Here’s why ecologists love them | Alison Pearce Stevens | September 17, 2020 | Science News For StudentsThe EPA’s loan will cover almost half the project costs, said Lindsay Leahy, Oceanside’s principal water engineer.
North County Report: Schools Are Reopening for Students Most in Need | Kayla Jimenez | September 16, 2020 | Voice of San DiegoAs water freezes at 0 °C, I need a way to chill water to cooler than that.
Build ice towers with bottled water and ice | Bethany Brookshire | September 16, 2020 | Science News For StudentsThe Memphis Sands Aquifer, a crucial water supply for Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas and Louisiana, is already overdrawn by hundreds of millions of gallons a day.
Climate Change Will Force a New American Migration | by Abrahm Lustgarten, photography by Meridith Kohut | September 15, 2020 | ProPublica
Fluoride first entered an American water supply through a rather inelegant technocratic scheme.
When cities started adding chlorine to their water supplies, in the early 1900s, it set off public outcry.
Before anti-vaxxers, there were anti-fluoriders: a group who spread fear about the anti-tooth decay agent added to drinking water.
Placed in drinking water, fluoride can serve people who otherwise have poor access to dental care.
In secret, before the referendum, the council went ahead and fluoridated the water anyway.
Urbanity ushers in water that needs no apology, and gives a zest to the worst vintage.
Pearls of Thought | Maturin M. BallouThe two women had no intention of bathing; they had just strolled down to the beach for a walk and to be alone and near the water.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories | Kate ChopinMrs. Woodbury paints in oils and water-colors; the latter are genre scenes, and among them are several Dutch subjects.
Women in the fine arts, from the Seventh Century B.C. to the Twentieth Century A.D. | Clara Erskine ClementBut there was a breeze blowing, a choppy, stiff wind that whipped the water into froth.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories | Kate ChopinShe threw out her arms as if swimming when she walked, beating the tall grass as one strikes out in the water.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories | Kate Chopin
British Dictionary definitions for water
/ (ˈwɔːtə) /
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: H 2 O: Related adjective: aqueous Related combining forms: hydro-, aqua-
any body or area of this liquid, such as a sea, lake, river, etc
(as modifier): water sports; water transport; a water plant Related adjective: aquatic
the surface of such a body or area: fish swam below the water
any form or variety of this liquid, such as rain
See high water, low water
any of various solutions of chemical substances in water: lithia water; ammonia water
physiol
any fluid secreted from the body, such as sweat, urine, or tears
(usually plural) the amniotic fluid surrounding a fetus in the womb
a wavy lustrous finish on some fabrics, esp silk
archaic the degree of brilliance in a diamond: See also first water
excellence, quality, or degree (in the phrase of the first water)
finance
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
the fictitious or unrealistic asset entries that reflect such inflated book value of capital
(modifier) astrology of or relating to the three signs of the zodiac Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces: Compare air (def. 20), earth (def. 10), fire (def. 24)
above the water informal out of trouble or difficulty, esp financial trouble
hold water to prove credible, logical, or consistent: the alibi did not hold water
in deep water in trouble or difficulty
make water
to urinate
(of a boat, hull, etc) to let in water
pass water to urinate
test the water See test 1 (def. 5)
throw cold water on or pour cold water on informal to be unenthusiastic about or discourage
water under the bridge events that are past and done with
(tr) to sprinkle, moisten, or soak with water
(tr often foll by down) to weaken by the addition of water
(intr) (of the eyes) to fill with tears
(intr) (of the mouth) to salivate, esp in anticipation of food (esp in the phrase make one's mouth water)
(tr) to irrigate or provide with water: to water the land; he watered the cattle
(intr) to drink water
(intr) (of a ship, etc) to take in a supply of water
(tr) finance to raise the par value of (issued capital stock) without a corresponding increase in the real value of assets
(tr) to produce a wavy lustrous finish on (fabrics, esp silk)
Origin of water
1- See also water down
Derived forms of water
- waterer, noun
- waterish, adjective
- waterless, adjective
- water-like, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for water
[ wô′tər ]
A colorless, odorless compound of hydrogen and oxygen. Water covers about three-quarters of the Earth's surface in solid form (ice) and liquid form, and is prevalent in the lower atmosphere in its gaseous form, water vapor. Water is an unusually good solvent for a large variety of substances, and is an essential component of all organisms, being necessary for most biological processes. Unlike most substances, water is less dense as ice than in liquid form; thus, ice floats on liquid water. Water freezes at 0°C (32°F) and boils at 100°C (212°F). Chemical formula: H2O.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Other Idioms and Phrases with water
In addition to the idioms beginning with water
- water down
- water over the dam
also see:
- above water
- backwater
- blood is thicker than water
- blow out (of the water)
- come on in (the water's fine)
- dead in the water
- fish in troubled waters
- fish out of water
- head above water
- hell or high water
- high-water mark
- hold water
- hot water
- in deep (water)
- keep one's head (above water)
- like water off a duck's back
- make one's mouth water
- muddy the waters
- of the first water
- pour cold water on
- pour oil on troubled waters
- still waters run deep
- take to (like a duck to water)
- throw out the baby with the bath water
- tread water
- you can lead a horse to water
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Browse