water tower

noun

1. a vertical pipe or tower into which water is pumped to a height sufficient to maintain a desired pressure for firefighting, distribution to customers, etc.
2. a fire-extinguishing apparatus for throwing a stream of water on the upper parts of a tall burning building.

water tower

noun

1. 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of water tower¹

First recorded in 1880–85