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.
2.
a special form or variety of this liquid, as rain.
3.
Often, waters.this liquid in an impure state as obtained from a mineral spring: Last year we went to Marienbad for the waters.
4.
the liquid content of a river, inlet, etc., with reference to its relative height, esp. as dependent on tide: a difference of 20 feet between high and low water.
5.
the surface of a stream, river, lake, ocean, etc.: above, below, or on the water.
6.
waters,
a.
flowing water, or water moving in waves: The river's mighty waters.
b.
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.
7.
a liquid solution or preparation, esp. one used for cosmetic purposes: lavender water; lemon water.
8.
Often, waters.Medicine/Medical.
a.
amniotic fluid.
b.
the bag of waters; amnion: Her water broke at 2 a.m.
9.
any of various solutions of volatile or gaseous substances in water: ammonia water.
10.
any liquid or aqueous organic secretion, exudation, humor, or the like, as tears, perspiration, or urine.
11.
Finance. fictitious assets or the inflated values they give to the stock of a corporation.
12.
a wavy, lustrous pattern or marking, as on silk fabrics or metal surfaces.
13.
(formerly) the degree of transparency and brilliancy of a diamond or other precious stone.
14.
take water, (of a boat) to allow water to enter through leaks or portholes or over the side.
–verb (used with object)
15.
to sprinkle, moisten, or drench with water: to water the flowers; to water a street.
16.
to supply (animals) with water for drinking.
17.
to furnish with a supply of water, as a ship.
18.
to furnish water to (a region), as by streams; 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.
19.
to dilute, weaken, soften, or adulterate with, or as with, water (often fol. by down): to water soup; to water down an unfavorable report.
20.
Finance. to issue or increase the par value of (shares of stock) without having the assets to warrant doing so (often fol. by down).
21.
to produce a wavy, lustrous pattern, marking, or finish on (fabrics, metals, etc.): watered silk.
–verb (used without object)
22.
to discharge, fill with, or secrete water or liquid, as the eyes when irritated, or as the mouth at the sight or thought of tempting food.
23.
to drink water, as an animal.
24.
to take in a supply of water, as a ship: Our ship will water at Savannah.
–adjective
25.
of or pertaining to water in any way: a water journey.
26.
holding, or designed to hold, water: a water jug.
27.
worked or powered by water: a water turbine.
28.
heating, pumping, or circulating water (often used in combination): hot-water furnace; city waterworks.
29.
used in or on water: water skis.
30.
containing or prepared with water, as for hardening or dilution: water mortar.
31.
located or occurring on, in, or by water: water music; water frontage.
32.
residing by or in, or ruling over, water: water people; water deities.
—Idioms
33.
above water, out of embarrassment or trouble, esp. of a financial nature: They had so many medical bills that they could hardly keep their heads above water.
34.
break water,
a.
to break the surface of the water by emerging from it.
b.
Swimming. to break the surface of the water with the feet, esp. in swimming the breaststroke doing the frog kick.
c.
Medicine/Medical. to break the amniotic sac prior to parturition.
35.
by water, by ship or boat: to send goods by water.
Origin: bef. 900; (n.) ME; OE wæter; c. D water, G Wasser; akin to ON vain, Goth wato, Hittite watar, Gk hýdōr; (v.) ME wateren, OE wæterian, deriv. of the n.
tv. [for an idea, plan, etc.] to survive evaluation or scrutiny. : Nothing you've said so far holds water.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition. Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History
water (n.2)
measure of quality of a diamond, 1607, from water (n.1), perhaps as a transl. of Arabic ma' "water," which also is used in the sense "lustre, splendor."
A clear, colorless, odorless, and tasteless liquid essential for most plant and animal life and the most widely used of all solvents. Freezing point 0°C (32°F); boiling point 100°C (212°F); specific gravity (4°C) 1.0000; weight per gallon (15°C) 8.338 pounds (3.782 kilograms).
Any of the liquids that are present in or passed out of the body, such as urine, perspiration, tears, or saliva.
The fluid that surrounds a fetus in the uterus; amniotic fluid.
An aqueous solution of a substance, especially a gas.
water (wô'tər) Pronunciation Key
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.
Stand up to critical examination, be sound and valid, as in This argument just won't hold water, or Her reasons for quitting don't hold water. This metaphoric expression alludes to a container that can hold water without leaking. [c. 1600]